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Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 191-, sorted by firsts, descending

date event tags firsts
1912 11 Aug
191-
While ‘Abdu’l-Baha was in New York, He sent word to the Baha’is of Chicago that the House of Spirituality should be reorganized and a new election held. He chose Howard MacNutt, to travel to Chicago as His personal representative. MacNutt was instructed to hold a new election for a “Spiritual Meeting” of the Bahá'ís of Chicago. For the first time, women were eligible for election to this body..

MacNutt arrived in Chicago on August 8th. At ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s instructions, a feast was held on August 10, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Lesch, where the entire Chicago Bahá'í community was invited to be the guests of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. MacNutt delivered to the community ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s message of unity and love. The election was held the following day the 11th of August.

On Sunday evening, the 1rth of August, the Chicago Assembly selected a "Spiritual Meeling'' of nine, composed of men and women. whose service-according to the wish of Abdul-Ilahá -is, first, to propagate the teachings of the Revelation, and, second, to attend to other matters necessary lo the welfare of the assembly. [SoW Vol 3 No 9 20 August 1912 p16]

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Local Spiritual Assembly, election; Spiritual Assemblies; Women the first spiritual assembly to include women
1919 20 Sep
191-
Martha Root arrived in Argentina, the first recorded visit of a Bahá'í to this country. [MR101]
  • She remained in Buenos Aires until 4 October. [MR101]
  • See MR101-2 and MRHK61-5 for her teaching work in Argentina.
  • See MR103-6 and MRHK66-9 for her journey over the Andes on a mule.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Andes Mountains; Argentina; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Martha Root the first recorded visit of a Bahá'í to Argentina
    1910 29 Aug
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá departed for Egypt on board the steamer Kosseur London accompanied by two attendants, Mírzá Munír-i-Zayn and 'Abdu'l-Husayn. Upon arrival he telegrammed the Bahá'í in Haifa that he was in Egypt. Shoghi Effendi was asked to come two days later. [AB133-168; ABF5; BBRXXX; GPB280; AB134-135; Bahá'í News #12 16Oct1910 pg206; the Message from the Universal House of Justice dated August 29, 2010]
  • See letter from Sydney Sprague to Isabella Brittingham which indicates that He left sometime before this date.
  • GPB280 and AY84 say He departed in September.
  • After one month in Port Said He embarked for Marseille but turned back to Alexandria owing to His health. In a letter to Munírih Khánum He stated that His intention was to proceed to America or South Africa. [GPB280, ABF5]
  • He stayed for a few days in the Victoria Hotel but then moved to a rented house in Ramleh, a suburb of Alexandria, where He stayed for about one year. [GPB280, AB136; Memories of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Ali M Yazdi (1899-1978) who was a child at the time.]
  • Early in May of 1911 he moved to Cairo and took up residence in nearby Zaytún. [AB138]
  • It was during this period that a sudden change occurred. A journalist who had previously been hostile towards Him took a new tone. [AB136]
  • The Russian poet Isabel Grinevsky, the Oriental Secretary of the British Agency, Ronald Storrs, Lord Kitchener, George Zaydán, eminent writer and celebrated editor as well as clerics, aristocrats, administrators, parliamentarians, men of letters, journalists and publicists, Arabs, Turks and Persians all sought out His company and met with Him. This period could be considered the first public proclamation of the Faith. [MRHK348, AB136-139; CH226]
  • See AB138-139 for a description of His triumphs during this period.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Alexandria, Egypt; Cairo, Egypt; Egypt; Firsts, other; Haifa, Israel; Isabella Grinevskaya; Kosseur London (ship); Port Said, Egypt; Proclamation; Ramleh, Egypt; Ships; Zaytun (Zeitoun), Iran The first public proclamation of the Faith.
    1911 3 Jun
    191-
    Ghodsea Khanoum Ashraf (Qudsíyyih Ashraf) (b. 22 November 1889 in Majidābād, d. 16 April 1976 in Tehran) arrived in the United States together with Dr. Lutfullah Hakim and four others. On the final leg of her journey from Southhampton to New York City aboard the RMS Mauretania, she was accompanied by Louis Gregory. She was the first Persian woman to travel to the country and as such, received considerable press coverage. [BFA2:358]
  • She remained in the United States until 1919. Her return to Iran was delayed due to travel restrictions during the war. During this time she obtained a high school certificate, a bachelor's degree and then a master's degree. She was asked by ʿAbdu'l-Bahá to represent the women of the East at the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Temple in Wilmette on the 1st of May in 1912 and met Him again in Washington during November of the same year.
  • Upon her return to Iran she produced her academic credentials to the Education Minister and declared her readiness to serve her country. Despite her many outstanding qualifications he refused to hire her because she was a Bahá'í. Despite being denied the opportunity to serve as a teacher she found ways to render service in the field of education. With the passing of Lillian Kappes, the principal at the time of the Tarbiyat Girls' School of Tehran (Tarbiyat al-Banat), she took over as principal. In that capacity she took significant initiatives, notably offering monthly conferences and adult literacy classes.
  • She became further qualified by obtaining a diploma in nursing and then another in midwifery and subsequently opened clinics that offered services to the poor and the disadvantaged.
  • In 1956 Ms. Ashraf initially joined her nephew Mr. Abdollah Sahihi, a pioneer in Brazil. She then served in three more countries; Brazil, Ecuador and Columbia. In 1963 she attended the World Congress in London and then returned to Iran to continue her service to her native country.
  • See Ahmad Sohrab's letter to her in SW6, 10:77–9.
  • For short biographies see SCF55-85; Encyclopedia Iranica and Iran Press Watch.
  • - Biography; Firsts, other; Ghodsieh Ashraf (Qudsiyyih Ashraf); Iran; Majidabad, Iran; Tarbiyat School, Tihran; Tehran, Iran; United States (USA) The first Persian woman to travel in the USA.
    1919 (In the year)
    191-
    The first Norwegian to accept the Faith, Johanna Christensen-Schubarth, `the mother of the Norwegian Bahá'í Community', became a Bahá'í in the United States. [BW12:694-696]. - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Norway The first Norwegian to accept the Faith, Johanna Christensen-Schubarth
    1912 17 Dec
    191-
    A Bahá'í arrived from Ireland to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá, possibly Joan Waring, after travelling all day and all night. Miss Waring was possibly the first native believer in Ireland. She contributed to the Wilmette Temple Fund in 1913 and on the 26th of October 1914 she married Thomas Fforde. On the 29th of June 1919 they wrote to Àbdu'l-Bahá expressing gratitude that He had survived the War. [Bahá'í Council website; Early Irish Baha'is: Issues of Religious, Cultural, and National Identity by R. Jackson Armstrong-Ingram]
  • He made comments on the character of the American people.
  • In the afternoon He spoke to a large gathering at Caxton Hall in Westminster. [SoW Vol III no 19 2Mar1913 p3-4, ABTM276-277]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Ireland; London, England; United Kingdom The first native believer in Ireland.
    22 or 27 Sep
    191-
    The marriage of Louis G. Gregory and Louisa ("Louise") A. M. Mathew, the first interracial Bahá'í couple, who met while on pilgrimage and whom 'Abdul-Bahá had encouraged to marry. They exchanged Bahá'í vows after the rites performed by Rev. Everard W. Daniel, curate of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church, perhaps the most prestigious African American church in the country, in a private ceremony in his residence. In a "Tablet" (translated March 14, 1914). She was 46 and he was 8 years younger. [SYH73-75, 91]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá lauded the Gregorys' marriage as "an introduction to the accomplishment" of harmony between the races. [`ABDU'L-BAHÁ' S 1912 HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPEECH: A CIVIL WAR MYTH FOR INTERRACIAL EMANCIPATION p117 by Dr Christopher Buck]
  • See The Journey West.
  • The prayer, "Verily, they are married in obedience to thy command. Cause them to become the signs of unity and harmony until the end of time..." was revealed for their wedding by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [FMH97]
  • "Intermarriage is a good way to efface racial differences. It produces strong, beautiful offspring, clever and resourceful." [sYH7]
  • [239D:169] reported this marriage took place on the 27th of September.
  • At this time interracial marriage was legal in Washington but not socially acceptable. It was outlawed in 25 states. It wasn't until 1967 that legislation forbidding interracial marriages was henceforth illegal. In the Washington community at this time there were white Bahá'ís who did not yet understand the principle of racial unity. [SYH80, 85-86]
  • "I made that marriage." 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported having said to Mrs Parsons. "I wish the white and coloured races to marry"
  • Firsts, other; Interracial marriage; Louis G. Gregory; Louise Gregory; Marriage; New York, USA; Race; United States (USA); Unity; Weddings the first interracial Bahá’í couple
    1911 6 Nov
    191-
    This morning's talk at His apartment was Spiritual Aspiration in the West. [ABF161-163, PT70-72]
  • In the evening He spoke at the studio of Edwin and Josephine Scott at 17, rue Boissonade, American artists living in Paris. The lecture has been called Lecture Given at a Studio in Paris. [ABF163-165, PT72-74]
  • Another version of the lecture, this time entitled, Aims and Ambitions of Bahaies: Spoken by Abdul Baha in Paris, November 6th, 1911 was published in Star of the West. It was submitted by Madame d'Ange d'Astre, considered to be the first French Bahá'í from a Catholic background. [SoW Vol 2 no 14 23 November 1911 p15; SYH46]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; France; Paris, France the first French Bahá'í from a Catholic background
    1916 (in the year)
    191-
    Anthony Yuen Seto and his wife Mamie Lorettta O'Connor became Bahá'ís in Hawaii. Mr Seto was the first Chinese Bahá'í in the Hawaiian Islands and the first Chinese-American Bahá'í in the United States. [PH30; BW13p886-889] - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Hawaii, USA The first Chinese-American Bahá'í in the United States. the first Chinese Bahá í in the Hawaiian Islands
    1916 Apr or May
    191-
    The first Chinese Bahá'í in China, Chen Hai An (Harold A. Chen), became a Bahá'í while studying at the University of Chicago through the efforts of Dr Zia Baghdádí. He returned to Shanghai that same year. [PH29-30; Video Early history of the Bahá'í Faith in China 6min40sec]
  • PH30 says this was 1919 but this is clearly a typographical error.
  • He returned to China in December 1916.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Chicago, IL; China; United States (USA); Zia Bagdadi The first Chinese Bahá'í in China
    1919 19 Sep
    191-
    Martha Root arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, the first Bahá'í to visit the country.
  • She spent 12 hours in the city, gave books to two libraries and placed an article about the Faith in the newspaper El Dia. [MR100-101
  • Martha Root; Montevideo, Uruguay; Uruguay the first Bahá'í to visit Uruguay
    1919 Late
    191-
    Martha Root visited Cuba for one day, the first Bahá'í to do so, and lectured on the Bahá'í Faith. Cuba; Martha Root the first Bahá'í to visit Cuba
    1919 (In the year)
    191-
    After joining the Bahá'í Faith, Dorothy Champ (b. Loudoun County, Virginia, 23 February, 1893, d. East Providence, RI 28 November, 1979), went on to be a lifelong lecturer and teacher of the Faith. She was also the first African American elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New York City. [LoSp61-62; Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p20] Dorothy Champ; New York, USA; United States (USA) The first African American elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New York City
    1915 16 Jun
    191-
    Miss Margaret Green of Washington DC arrived in Alaska, the first known resident Bahá'í. She settled in Juneau from 1915 to 1918 and worked as a public librarian. [NSA site] Alaska, USA; Margaret Green; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA Margaret Green is the first know resident Bahá'í in Alaska.
    1911 11 Aug
    191-
    The beginning of `Abdu'l-Bahá's first Western tour [AB139]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá departed from Egypt with a party of four on the S. S. Corsica for Marseilles, Thonon-les-Bains and London. [AB139; GPB280; SBR22, SoW Vol 2 no.10 8 September, 1911 p7]
  • Subsequent research has shown that the ship was not the S.S. Corsica as stated in GPB280 but rather the L'Orenoque. See 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris page 6 note 47.
  • See BW1:130 for a list of cities He visited between 1911 and 1913.
  • It is believed that funds for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's teaching journeys to the West were provided by an oil-rich believer in Baku, Áqa Músá Naqiof (alternate spelling Musa Naghiyev)(yet another alternate spelling Báqirof) (1849-1919). [AY11; ABF295note684]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Condensed; - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Alexandria, Egypt; Bandar Anzali, Iran; Donations; Egypt; France; Funds; London, England; Marseilles, France; Musa Naghiyev; Musa Naqiof; Orenoque; S. S. Corsica; Ships; Thonon-les-Bains, France; United Kingdom First Western tour by `Abdu'l-Bahá'
    1911
    191-
    Star of the West volumes chronicled both the first and second Western journeys of `Abdu'l-Bahá. `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Star of the West First Western journey of `Abdu'l-Bahá
    1912 21 or 22 Dec
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá witnessed His first dramatic performance. It was a mystery Christmas play entitled Eager Heart written by Miss Alice Buckton and performed at the Church House, Westminster before an audience of 1,200. [SoW Vol III no 19 2March1913 p 7, CH154, AB34]
  • He is reported to have said, perhaps on another occasion, "The stage will be the pulpit of the future". [Quoted by Loulie Mathews in The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom, Vol 4, No. 3 (June 1923, p69]
  • Star of the West, Vol. 19 no. 11 Feb1929, p.341 quotes 'Abdu'l-Bahá as saying: "drama is of the utmost importance. It has been a great educational power in the past; it will be so again,". [BW1994-1995p255]
  • For a short biography of the life of Alice Buckton see The Early Years of the British Bahá'í Community (1898-1911) p97-103.
  • * Arts and crafts; - Drama; - Plays; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Alice Buckton; Eager Heart (play); London, England; Loulie A. Mathews; United Kingdom; Westminster, England First time `Abdu'l-Bahá attends a theatre performance
    1912 23 Apr
    191-
    Talk at Howard University, Washington, D.C. Howard University had been founded in 1867 to educate the newly freed slaves and by 1912 it was one of the foremost black universities in the country. It is reported that well over a thousand students, faculty members, administrators and guests jammed into the Rankin Chapel as 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke with Louis Gregory standing beside Him. The Howard University Journal, 26 April 1912, published His entire address. [PUP44, APD29, 239Dp40; Mahmúd's Diary p50-54; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p14]
    • To recapitulate His talk, `Abdu'l-Bahá emphasized the personal sacrifice of Northern whites for southern blacks in the course of the Civil War, and that African Americans (as the descendants of emancipated slaves) should therefore be grateful to whites in kind. In so saying, `Abdu'l-Bahá invoked history (or a certain view of it) in order to make history—by completing the unfinished work of the Emancipation Proclamation. ['Abdu'l-Bahá's 1912 Howard University Speech: A Civil War Myth for Interracial Emancipation by Dr Christopher Buck p134]
    • See as well TMTW51.
  • Coralie and George Cook arranged for 'Abdu'l-Bahá to speak at Howard University. Both were professors at Howard,, she the Chair of Oratory and he was professor of Commercial and International Law and later the Dean of the School of Commerce and Finance. [AWD70, 165]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá attended a reception at the Khan residence in the Persian embassy where He met Admiral Robert Peary. In the words of Juliet Thompson `Abdu'l-Bahá had told the Admiral, "That `for a very long time the world had been much concerned about the North Pole, where it was and what was to found there. Now he, Admiral Peary, had discovered it and that nothing was to [be] found there; and so, in forever relieving the public mind, he had rendered a great service." [DJT272-273]
  • It was on this occasion, at a dinner for the elite of Washington, that 'Abdu'l-Bahá asked, "Where is Mr Gregory? Bring me Mr Gregory!" when He saw that a place had not been set for him at the dinner table. Khan fetched Mr Gregory and 'Abdu'l-Bahá made a place for him on His right. 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk on the oneness of humankind and Agnes Parsons, who was seated on His left, asked a question about spiritual healing. [SYH59]
  • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Parsons, 1700 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. about the Titanic disaster. [PUP46; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p12; YouTube 'Abdu'l-Bahá - Life After Death]
  • Talk to Bethel Literary Society, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP49; SoW Vol 3 No 3 pg5]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at universities; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Admiral Peary; Agnes Parsons; `Alí Kulí Khán; Howard University; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA first time 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed the race issue in America
    1913 14 Oct
    191-
    Daniel Jenkyn, from England, made a two-week trip through the Netherlands, the first time a Bahá'í journeyed to the country to teach the Faith. [SBR43–4] Daniel Jenkyn; Netherlands; Travel teaching First teaching trip to the Netherlands
    1912 In the year
    191-
    The first publication of the book that has come to be titled Paris Talks initially called Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris. Prior to this, in the autumn of 1911, Mornings Spent with Abdul Baha Abbas in London and Paris had been published which, of course, did not include information from His visit the following year.
  • In 1924 the title was changed to The Wisdom of Abdul Baha from Addresses delivered in Paris 1910-1911. Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris...with supplementary historical note and introduction was printed in 1936 with the following editions starting in 1945 using the title that is currently used Paris Talks: Addresses Given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912
  • Counting the initial publication, there have been 19 editions in English including one in Braille and an audio recording. In addition, there have been multiple editions in some 25 other languages. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in France 1911 to 1913 p726-730]
  • * Publications; * Translation; - First publications; Paris Talks (book) first publications of Paris Talks.
    1919 18 Nov
    191-
    The periodical entitled "The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom" was published and distributed by Miss Ella Roberts from 1919 to 1924. [Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America: Native American creation stories, edited by Rosemary Skinner Keller, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Marie Cantlon p.782-783]
  • The story of the naming of the magazine...
      Margaret Randall told of the establishment of a Bahá'í Junior Magazine and asked 'Abdu'l-Bahá for a name for it. The Master was told who had charge of it, and His face lighted up with a beautiful smile as He said: "The name is The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom. Who writes it? This (name) is suitable for it. [WHR128-129]
  • See A Compilation on Bahá'í Education #96 for a tablet by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the children of the Bahá'í school, Urbana, Illinois found here.
  • See A Compilation on Bahá'í Education #102 for a tribute to the magazine by Shoghi Effendi found here. He called it "first and only organ of the Bahá'í youth throughout the world".
  • At the American National Convention in 1925 (July 4 - 9) it was reported that "The Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom", edited by Ella Roberts and "Bahá'í World Fellowship" edited by Mrs. Victoria Bedikian had merged. ["Bahá'í News Letter" #6 Jul-Aug 1925 p.6]
  • * Publications; - First publications; - Periodicals; Children; Haifa, Israel; Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom; United States (USA); Youth first publication for Bahá'í youth.
    1911 10 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá gave His first public address in the West in the City Temple Church in Holborn, London to an audience of over 2,000 people. He proclaimed that "This is a new cycle of human power…the gift of God in this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and the fundamental oneness of religion." [ABL17-20, AB140; BW2:227; GPB283–4, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p11]
  • He spoke at the invitation of The Reverend R J Campbell. Mr. Wellesly Tudor-Pole read the translation. [CH154]
  • Dialogue between Rev Campbell and 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [SoW Vol 2 No 11 27 September 1911 p3, 4-7]
  • For the text of His talk see AB140–2.
  • For the words He wrote in the pulpit Bible see AB145. The church was bombed in World War II and the pulpit Bible was destroyed. The church was rebuilt in 1958.
  • For a photo see BWNS792.
  • SoW Vol 2 No 11 27 September 1911 p3, 7-8.
  • See A New Cycle of Human Power: Abdu'l-Bahá's Encounters with Modernist Writers and Artists by Robert Weinberg.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Firsts, other; London, England; United Kingdom first public address in West by `Abdu'l-Bahá
    1912 14 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke from the pulpit of the Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street, New York at the invitation of Percy Stickney Grant who was later reprimanded by his bishop, Bishop Burch, for inviting 'Abdu'l-Bahá, unbaptized, to sit in the red plush Bishop's Chair behind the alter rail. This was in violation of church protocol and created a great controversy. [ABF22, 239D:21–3, PUP11, 239 Days in America Day52; Mahmúd's Diary p43-44; SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p6]
  • Talk at Union Meeting of Advanced Thought Centers, Carnegie Lyceum, West Fifty-seventh Street, New York. [PUP14]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; New York, USA; Percy Grant; United States (USA) first public address given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in North America.
    1913 7 Jan
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a crowd of several hundred Theosophists. The Theosophical Society (founded 1875) promoted brotherhood, the importance of Eastern philosophies and the search for spiritual and psychic truths. Edinburgh had one of the most active centres in Europe.
  • In the late morning they had a tour of Outlook Tower, 549 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2ND. Outlook Tower was an educational institution which taught astronomy, natural geography, cartology etc. The tour guide was Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) who was a Scottish biologist and botanist, known also as an innovative thinker in the fields of urban planning and education; as a town-planner in Palestine he had involvement in the cypress avenue leading up to the Shrine of the Báb, and he also planned a Bahá'í House of Worship in India. [AB447, Leroy Ioas, p218, SCU68, 73-82]
  • In the evening 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to the Esperanto Society at Freemason's Hall, 96 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DH. There were 1,000 people in the hall and some 300 outside. This was His first public address in Scotland. [ABTM294, Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Cypress trees; Edinburgh, Scotland; Esperanto; Patrick Geddes; Scotland; Theosophical Society; United Kingdom first public address by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Scotland.
    1912 11 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in New York. [AB172; GPB281; APD3-5; SoW Vol 3 No 3 p3; Mahmúd's Diary p38-39]

    As the ship that finally brought "'Abdu'l-Bahá to the shores of the American continent passed by the Statue of Liberty, He threw His arms wide open in greeting, saying "There is the new world's symbol of liberty and freedom. After being 40 years a prisoner I can tell you that freedom is not a matter of place. It is a condition. Unless one accept dire vicissitudes he will not attain. When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed a release." ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Their Midst p.56; SYH54]

  • He remained on board doing interviews with a number of newspapermen. Edward Kinny was called to come on the ship and the rest of those awaiting were told to leave the pier, proceed to the Kinney residence and wait for Him. [Mahmúd's Diary p38-39; DJT233-234]
    • See World Order Summer 1973 p45 for the story of disobedient Juliet Thompson and her friend Marjory Morton who remained behind on the quay to get a glimpse of Him.
  • One of the newspapermen to interview Him was Wendell Phillips Dodge who boarded the SS Cedric at quarantine and interviewed 'Abdul-Bahá coming up the bay. The article he wrote was given to all of the New York newspapers, and, through the Associated Press, was sent, though boiled down considerably, to newspapers throughout the world. See SoW Vol 3 No 3 April 28, 1912 p3 for the article.
  • When asked why He had come to America He said that He had come at the invitation of the peace congresses. [SYH53; MD8]
  • He stayed at the Ansonia Hotel at 2109 Broadway. [Luminous Journey 14:37, SYH55]
  • Talk at the home of Mr. Edward B. (Saffa, or Serenity) Kinney and his wife, Carrie (Vaffa, or Certitude), 780 West End Avenue, New York to some 200 people. This was the first private home in which 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk on His American tour. [PUP3]
  • One of the Persians in the Master's suite had cabled Alice Ives Breed in New York City, about the Master's arrival date. Thus alerted, Ali-Kuli Khan directed the Persian Consul, Topakian (an Armenian businessman), to officially greet 'Abdu'l-Bahá with full courtesies. Mr Topakian carried this out, and the Master was much pleased with his services. [AY85]
  • During His tour `Abdu'l-Bahá visited 49 cities and made approximately 400 addresses of which 185 were recorded. The combined audience for His talks is estimated to be 90,000 people. [SBBH1:110; Luminous Journey 1:37; 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America 1912-2012]
  • For a chronological list of talks given by `Abdu'l-Bahá while in North America see PUP473–8 or Index.
  • For details of His journey see AB171–339.
  • Ward, 239 Days; Balyuzi, `Abdu'l-Bahá; The Diary of Juliet Thompson; many editions of Star of the West and numerous biographies of Bahá'ís of the time as well as other books carry information about `Abdu'l-Bahá travels and talks.
    He was accompanied by:
    • Sayyid Asadu'lláh Qumí
    • Dr Fareed Amin Ullah, He was a nephew of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and served as his translator during His tour of the West. Because of his disobedience, both he and his father were expelled from the Faith. See AY102-103 and AB230.
    • Mírza Mahmúd-i Zarqání. He was a member of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's entourage for both the Western and European tours. He wrote an account of the travels in a book entitled Kitáb-i Badáyi'u'l-Áthár and called "Mahmúd's Diary" in the English translation. [APD151]
    • Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. He had originally come to the West to assist Mírzá Abú'l-Fadl Gulpaygání in 1901. He remained and worked at the Iranian Consulate until 1912 and during this time he translated much of the correspondence between 'Abdu'l-Bahâ and the Western believers. After the American tour, he returned to the Holy Land. After the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá he rejected the authority of Shoghi Effendi and was expelled. [APD155]
  • See video entitled 'Abdu'l-Bahá and New York City.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Biography; - Consuls; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Alí Kulí Khán; Edward Kinney; Mahmuds Diary; New York, USA; Topakyan, Mr.; United States (USA) first private home where he gave a talk was at the Kinney’s
    1911 Aug
    191-
    Hájí Muhammad-Taqí Afnán, Vakílu'd-Dawlih, the cousin of the Báb largely responsible for the building of the House of Worship in `Ishqábád, was buried in the newly acquired Bahá'í cemetery in Haifa, the earliest recorded burial in the cemetery. [BBD51; DH182]
  • He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - In Memoriam; Afnan; Báb, Family of; Cemeteries and graves; Firsts, other; Haifa, Israel; Hájí Muhammad-Taqi Afnan (Vakilud-Dawlih); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Ishqabad First known use of the Bahá'í Cemetery in Haifa.
    1910 21 Mar
    191-
    The first issue of the Bahá'í News was published in Chicago. [BFA2:XVII; BW10:179; BWNS1289]
  • See BFA2:320–2, BW8:927 and SBBH1:116–17 for the magazine's development.
  • It was the first Bahá'í magazine published in the West. [BBD2 14]
  • Star of the West was published as Bahá'í News (Volume 1, Issues 1-19 from 21 March, 1910 until 2 March, 1911) and later under Star of the West /The Bahá'í Magazine (Volume 2 to Volume 25, 21 March, 1911 until 25 March,1935).
  • Its editors were Albert Windust and Gertrude Buikema. Others involved with its publication over its history were Albert and Emily Vail, Dr. Zia Baghdadi, Ahmad Sohrab, Edna M. True; with Horace Holley and Stanwood Cobb being singled out as early contributors. [Duane Troxel]
    Star of the West Published March 1910 to April 1935
              URL   (For cut 'n' paste)  
             Volume # / Dates (links)   
    Vol 1 (Mar 1910) - Vol 10 (Mar 1920)
    Vol 11 (Mar 1920) - Vol 20 (Mar 1930)
    Vol 21 (Apr 1930) - Vol 25 (Apr 1935)

    For an access to the Star of the West archives see http://www.starofthewest.info. This site is not searchable.

  • * Publications; - First publications; - Periodicals; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bahá'í News (US); Chicago, IL; Star of the West; United States (USA) First issue of Bahá'í News; first Bahá'í magazine
    1915 19-25 Apr
    191-
    The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco and the 24th of April was declared International Bahá'í Congress Day. [BW8:797-808]
  • See PG97-99 for a Tablet by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to James Barr, the director of the Congresses at the Pacific International Exposition, regarding his assistance to the First International Bahá'í Congress.
  • - Conferences, International; Conferences, Other; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA) first International Baha'i Congress
    1911 26 - 29 Jul
    191-
    The First Universal Races Congress was held at the University of London. It was the first important conference in which the British Bahá'ís participated. It was an international symposium on the theme of the brotherhood of humankind and attracted leading politicians, theologians and scholars from the whole of the British Empire and from Europe as well as North America. During the Congress itself there were several presentations from Bahá'ís including the reading of a letter from 'Abdu'l-Bahá who was in Egypt at the time. [NBAD45]
  • See 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Letter and here.
  • See SoW Vol II No 9 for a report by Wellesley Tudor-Pole, an article by Thorton Chase as well as the letter from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to the conference. See as well Speech for the Universal Races Congress translation and comments by Senn McGlinn.
  • A translation was published in "The Christian Commonwealth" on August 2, 1911.
  • A bibliography of the presentations, papers and contributions and secondary literature by Ralph Dumain can be found here.
  • A paper by Dr W. E. B. DuBois entitled The Negro Race in the United States of America (pp348-364)was also presented at this conference.
  • Alain Locke attended. It may have been where he first heard of the Bahá'í faith. He credits this conference as his inspiration to begin the first of five historic lectures on race relation he delivered at Howard University in 1916. [Alain Locke: Faith & Philosophy p43 by Dr Chrisopher Buck]
  • See the website of the National Centre for Race Amity.
    • The long term goal of the National Center for Race Amity is to have a resolution adopted by both the House and the Senate to have the second Sunday in June declared as an annual Day of Observance in the United States, with the President issuing a Proclamation supporting the passage of the Race Amity Day Resolution.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; Alain Locke; Conferences, Race Amity; Firsts, other; London, England; Race; Race amity; Race unity; Thornton Chase; United Kingdom; Wellesley Tudor Pole first important conference in which the British Bahá'ís participated.
    1919 (In the year)
    191-
    Ms. Dorothy Champ (b. 23 February, 1893, Loudoun County, Virginia. d. 28 November, 1979, East Providence, RI) became a Bahá'í and went on to become a great teacher of the Faith. She had been a designer, singer, model and dancer. She was so inspired by the Faith that she had given up her career to teach. Ms. Champ was the first black person elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New York City. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p20; LoS61-62] Dorothy Champ; New York, USA first black person elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New York City.
    1912 (In the year)
    191-
    Margaret Stevenson was the first believer in New Zealand. [New Zealand Bahá'í News, May 1997]
  • See 11 February, 1941 for biographical information.
  • For a photo see Encyclopedia of New Zealand
  • She was the first New Zealand Bahá'i, and for 10 years from 1912, the only one. When the first New Zealand Bahá'i group formed in 1924, Stevenson was elected its president. Her two sisters also joined the faith. Stevenson remained secretary of the Bahá'i Spiritual Assembly in New Zealand until her passing in 1941.
  • - First Bahá'ís by country or area; Margaret Stevenson; New Zealand first believer in New Zealand.; first group in New Zealand
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    Charles Mason Remey and Howard Struven arrived in Shanghai and met with Áqá Mírzá `Abdu'l-Baqí Yazdí. They were probably the first Bahá'ís from the West to go to China. [PH25; Video Early history of the Bahá'í Faith in China 5min45sec] Aqa Mírzá `Abdu'l-Baqi Yazdi; Charles Mason Remey; China; Firsts, other; Howard Struven; Shanghai, China First Bahá'ís from West to go to China
    1916 summer
    191-
    Mr Vasily Eroshenko, a young blind Russian, visited Thailand, the first Bahá'í to do so. - Travel teachers and pioneers, First; Thailand First Bahá'í to visit Thailand
    1914 Jun
    191-
    George Augur arrived in Japan. [BFA2:53; SBR191]
  • He was the first Bahá'í to reside in the country. [SBR191]
  • For a biography of George Augur see SBR187–98.
  • See PG118 for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's comments on Japan.
  • George Augur; Japan First Bahá'í to reside in Japan
    1917 (In the year)
    191-
    At this time there were eleven Persian Bahá'ís in Shanghai. Through the efforts of Aqa Mirza Ahmad and Ridi Tabrizi a Bahá'í pamphlet was published, probably the first Bahá'í publication in the Chinese language. It included 'Abdu'l-Bahá's twelve principles and passages from His explanation of the spiritual significance of the European War. The pamphlet include a picture of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and was also published in Persian. [PH31; Video Early history of the Bahá'í Faith in China 7 min 42 sec] * Publications; Shanghai, China first Bahá'í publication in China
    1911 (In the year)
    191-
    The earliest records available indicate that the first Bahá'í meetings in South Africa were held by Mrs Agnes Cook of Protea Avenue, Sea Point. She held meetings on the 19th day of each calendar month. [PHBFp8] - First believers; Point Sea, South Africa; South Africa first Bahá'í meetings in South Africa
    1915 11 Oct
    191-
    Arthur Pillsbury Dodge, Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá, passed away in Freeport, New York. [SBR15]
  • He had become a Bahá'í in 1895 just before moving to New York City. He visited Haifa in 1900 and Dr. Edward Granville Brown in Cambridge. He was a lawyer, publisher and self-made man. In 1898 he held the first Bahá'í classes in his home and the first public meetings on the Faith with talks given by Dr. Ibrahim Kheiralla. The first person to become a Bahá'í in NYC was Mr. James F. Brittingham, then of Weehawken, NJ who first heard the message from his sister, Mrs. Dixon of Chicago. Mrs. Mary H. Tousey organized the classes at Dodge's home. Later that year, Mr. Howard MacNutt received the message. [Highlights of the First 40 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in New York, City of the Covenant, 1892-1932 by Hussein Ahdieh p3]
  • For biographies see Bahá'í Chronicles; BFA1:116-17, SBR1-16 and SW6, 13:100-1.
  • For his obituary see SW6, 19:161-7.
  • Dodge's books include The Truth of It (1901) [SW6, 13:101] and Whence? Why? Wither? (1907). [SW6, 13:101; Collins7.821]
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; Arthur Pillsbury Dodge; Freeport, NY; Howard MacNutt; James F. Brittingham; New York, USA; United States (USA) first Bahá'í classes in New York City. First public meetings in New York City. First person to become a Bahá'í in New York City-James Brittingham;
    1911 3 May
    191-
    Aurelia Bethlen, a Hungarian who had come to the United States in 1892 and had become a Bahá'í in New York City about 1905-6, departed from San Francisco on the first around the world teaching trip undertaken by a Bahá'í woman. [BFA2:351–3] Aurelia Bethlen; Hungary; San Francisco, CA; Travel teaching First around the world teaching trip by Bahá'í woman
    1919 25 Oct
    191-
    Martha Root arrived in Panama, the first Bahá'í to visit the country. She spent one week there. [MRp108-109] Martha Root; Panama the first Bahá'í to visit Panama,
    1912 13 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Phoebe Hearst at her estate, at her invitation. [239D:168; AB307; MD326-331]
  • She was estranged from the Faith because one or two individuals had tried to extort money from her but her invitation was sincere. [MD326; AB307–8]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; California, USA; Hearst Estate; Misconduct of believers; Phoebe Hearst; United States (USA)
    1912 31 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Oxford at the invitation of Dr Thomas Kelly Cheyne to address a meeting at Manchester College. [BW4p384-385, AB352–354, ABIM284, Journey West 20130210; Ahmad Sohrab's Diary - The Great Tour p99; The Dawn Vol 1 No 2 October 1923 p2]
  • In 1886, Cheyne was appointed Oriel Professor of Interpretation of Scripture at Oxford University, and, as an ordained Anglican priest (1864), was installed as Canon of Rochester Cathedral (Church of England) that same year. An advocate of "higher criticism" as applied to biblical scholarship, Professor Cheyne was the first at Oxford University to teach students how to apply the methods and tools of higher criticism to the Hebrew Scriptures. See An Oxford Scholar on the Spirit of Truth by Christopher Buck.
  • For biographical information see a paper by Crawford Howell Toy entitled Thomas Kelly Cheyne.
  • See Hurqalya Publications for a translation by Stephen Lambden of a Tablet to Dr Cheyne as well as the address to Manchester College.
  • After the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá the elderly and infirmed professor, who was unable to walk and had difficulty speaking, went on to write the book, The Reconciliation of Races and Religions. See BWXp483 for an excerpt regarding Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • His second wife was the poetess Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne (1869-1931) whom he married (aged 69) on August 28th [19th] 1911 about four years after the death of his first wife. Elizabeth Gibson was the sister of the `War Poet' Wilfred Wilson Gibson. A paper by Judy Greenway, a grand niece of Elizabeth Gibson entitled "From the Wilderness to the Beloved City: Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne", pays tribute to the woman whom 'Abdul'-Bahá lauded during His visit. This paper was given at the invitation of the Oxford Bahá'í Community in December 2012, as part of the celebration of the centenary of Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Oxford.
  • See an article by Christopher Buck on Cheyne's interpretation of Isaiah's prophecies
  • - Biography; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne; Judy Greenway; Oxford, England; Stephen Lambden; Thomas Kelly Cheyne; United Kingdom
    1913 7 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Bad Mergentheim by automobile to visit the hotel and mineral bath owned by Consul Schwarz (later named Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá by Shoghi Effendi). [AB383]
  • Later, in 1916 the local Bahá'í community commemorated the visit with the dedication of a monument, a life-sized likeness of the head of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on a granite stone about two metres in height. The Nazis removed it in 1937 but it was replaced in 2007. [BWNS524]
  • - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pictures and portraits; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Albert Schwarz; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bad Mergentheim, Germany; Cars; Germany; Monuments; Portraits; World War II
    1913 30 Mar
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled from Paris to Stuttgart. [AB379]
  • He told His attendants to wear European dress and to discard their oriental headgear. [AB379]
  • He did not tell the Bahá'ís of Stuttgart of His arrival in advance. [AB379]
  • The party arrived on the 1st of April and took rooms in Hotel Marquardt, near the train station. Then He asked His attendant to telephone the Bahá'ís to announce His arrival and invite them to the hotel. [AB379-380]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Baqirof-Khamsi (Sadat-i-Khams); France; Germany; Paris, France; Siyyid Ahmad Khamsi-Baqirof; Stuttgart, Germany
    1911 22 Aug - 3 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá took up residence at Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Leman (Lake Geneva). [AB140; GPB280; SBR219]
    • While there He encountered Zillu's-Sultán, the eldest son of the Sháh of the time, Násirid-Dín Sháh. It was he who had ratified the execution of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs and at least 100 others. The whole family was in exile in Geneva at this time. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was very courteous to this man who had been such an inveterate enemy of the Cause. [DJT172, AY19, GPB201] .
    • The Master sent for Juliet Thompson who had been waiting in London for His permission to join Him.
    • During His stay he had a visit from Annie Boylan, a member of the New York community that was experiencing disharmony. Unaware of Bahá'í election procedures, a group that was unhappy with the disunity and ineffectiveness of the Council had organized a vote to be rid of several of its Council members. 'Abdu'l-Bahá had written to the community a short time before recommending that the Council be expanded from 9 to 27 members so that all factions could be represented. He also recommended that women be included on the Council and that the name be changed to "the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New York". This apparently addressed the problem of disunity because the New York community went on to contribute significantly to the progress of the Faith on a national level. [DJT181, BFA2p338]
    • Horace Holley, who lived at Quattro Torri, Siena, Italy at the time, along with his wife Bertha Herbert and baby daughter Hertha, visited 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the 29th and 30th of August. Please see his Religion for Mankind p 232-237 for a pen portrait of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
    • He met with Elizabeth Stewart and Lillian Kappes who were on their way to Tehran. [find reference]
    • It would appear that He returned to Marseilles and travelled to London by sea. [SCU22-23]
    - Persecution; `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Board of Council; Elizabeth Stewart; France; Horace Holley; Italy; Juliet Thompson; King of Martyrs and Beloved of Martyrs; Lake Geneva; Lillian Kappes; London, England; Marseilles, France; Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (King of Martyrs); Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn (Beloved of Martyrs); New York, USA; Ships; Spiritual Assemblies; Switzerland; Thonon-les-Bains, France; United Kingdom; United States (USA); Unity; Zillus-Sultan
    1912 12 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá took a ferry to New Jersey then a train to Montclair where He addressed the congregation of the Montclair Unity Church before returning to New York to speak to the International Peace Forum at the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on West 104th Street, New York where He spoke to 2,000 people. [239D:66; AB191, PUP113, PUP116]

    He used the situation in Libya as an example of the senselessness of war. See Promulgation of Universal Peace p119]

    - International peace conferences; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Colonialism and imperialism; Montclair, NJ; New Jersey, USA; New York, USA; Peace; Trains; United States (USA)
    1912 5 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá sailed on the S. S. Celtic of the White Star Line from New York to Liverpool. [239D:193–4; AB337; GPB281]
  • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's final words to the Bahá'ís, spoken while on board ship. Again He made reference to the war in the Balkans. See PUP468.
  • During his time in North America 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave over 400 talks to approximately 93,000 people. He spoke in 31 moderate and progressive churches, 14 theosophical and other metaphysical gatherings, 5 universities, 3 synagogues, 1 African-American church, the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference, Hall House, and the 4th annual NAACP Conference. [Àbdu'l-Bahá's Journey Across America 18min12sec]
      "Consider what is happening in the Balkans. Human blood is being shed, properties are destroyed, possessions pillaged, cities and villages devastated. A world enkindling fire is astir in the Balkans. God has created men to love each other; but instead, they kill each other with cruelty and bloodshed. God has created them that they may cooperate and mingle in accord; but instead, they ravage, plunder and destroy in the carnage of battle. God has created them to be the cause of mutual felicity and peace; but instead, discord, lamentation and anguish rise from the hearts of the innocent and afflicted."
  • For Ahmad Sohrab's account of the sea crossing see SW3, 16:2.
  • 'Àbdu’l-Bahá had a cabin on the upper deck of the Celtic where He had access to the larger stateroom where He often spoke. His retinue that consisted of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Áqá Siyyid Asadu’lláh (Qumí) and Mahmúd Zarqání were accommodated in second class but had access to the Master apart from when He was eating or sleeping. [ABE9-13]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Liverpool, England; New York, USA; S. S. Celtic; Ships; United Kingdom; United States (USA)
    1916 26 Mar-22 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá revealed eight of the Tablets of the Divine Plan. [AB420; BBD219 BBRSM157; SBBH132-3; TDPX; Message 29 December 2015]
  • For the order and place of their revelation see AB420-2 and TDP.
  • For a description of their content see AB422-3.
  • Shoghi Effendi characterizes them as a `mandate' and a `supreme charter for teaching'. [GPB255; TDPVII]
  • The Tablets can be found at bahai.org/library:
  • 1st (Page 1) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Northeastern States. Revealed on March 26, 1916, in 'Abdu'l‑Bahá's room at the house in Bahjí, addressed to the Bahá'ís of nine Northeastern States of the United States: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
  • 2nd (Page 2) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Southern States. Revealed on March 27, 1916, in the garden adjacent to the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, addressed to the Bahá'ís of sixteen Southern States of the United States: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
  • 3rd (Page 3) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Central States. Revealed on March 29, 1916, outside the house in Bahjí, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of twelve Central States of the United States: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
  • 4th (Page 4) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Western States. Revealed on April 1, 1916, in 'Abdu'l‑Bahá's room at the house in Bahjí, addressed to the Bahá'ís of eleven Western States of the United States: New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
  • 5th (Page 5) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of Canada and Greenland. Revealed on April 5, 1916, in the garden adjacent to the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of Canada—Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Mackenzie, Keewatin, Ungava, Franklin Islands—and Greenland.
  • 6th (Page 6) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada. Revealed on April 8, 1916, in the garden outside the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada.
  • 7th (Page 8) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada. Revealed on April 11, 1916, in 'Abdu'l‑Bahá's room at the house in Bahjí, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada.
  • 8th (Page 11) Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada. Revealed on April 19, 1916, in 'Abdu'l‑Bahá's room at the house in Bahjí; on April 20, in the pilgrims' quarters of the house in Bahjí; on April 22, in the garden adjacent to the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada.
  • See the story of the Geography Book used for the Tablets of the Divine Plan. It was called World Geography: One Volume Edition by Ralph Stockman Tarr and Frank Morton McMurry.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Haifa, Israel; Tablets of the Divine Plan
    1912 16 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to San Francisco. Mrs Hearst asked Him if she could accompany Him. [AB308; 239 Days; MD330]
  • "Alas, even the benefits of this heavenly visit were tarnished by the actions of one member of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's entourage...there was one spoiler, the nephew of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's wife, Dr Ameen Fareed....Fareed would never have been allowed on Phoebe's property had he not been accompanying the Master because she had had difficulties with him and his father years before. Fareed took advantage of the Master's visit to the Hacienda to forge a letter, purportedly from 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself, asking her for funds. Phoebe was all too familiar with people trying to get her money and did not take the bait. It further confirmed that her wariness in associating with many in the Bahá'í community was justified." [LWS261]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Ameen Fareed (Amin Farid); Covenant-breakers (individuals); Phoebe Hearst; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA)
    1912 25 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Sacramento and arrived at noon the same day. In addition to members of His entourage, Mirza Mahmud, Dr Ameen Allah Fareed and Ahmad Sohrab Mirza Ali Akbar and Fugita, He was accompanied by some of the friends and among them were Mrs Goodall, her mother Mrs 'Cooper, and Mrs Ralston. Upon His arrival at the Central Pacific Arcade Station He was met by Christine Fraser, who operated a `Home of Truth' in Sacramento. The Homes of Truth were based on the teachings of New Thought developed by Emma Curtis Hopkins. Christine Fraser and Carrie York, another associated with the Home of Truth, took Him to their facility for lunch. [239D:171; SBBH6 Community Histories p245-246]

    At 5PM He arrived at His hotel, the Hotel Sacramento and gave a talk. The following day an article appeared in the Sacramento Bee reporting on the talk. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I Bahá'í World News Service 2018-11-26; PUP370; MD348-351]

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA)
    1912 19 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá clarified His station as the Centre of the Covenant. It is widely believed that He named New York the `City of the Covenant' on this occasion but no substantiation can be found, however, Shoghi Effendi noted that He did call New York City the "City of the Covenant" (CoF158; GPB288 refer). [239D:93; AB220; BBD55, ABNY51; DJT315-316]
  • This proclamation was made to about 125 people gathered in HIs house at West 78th Street.
  • The text of HIs talk can be found at SoW Vol 5 No 15 (December 12, 1914), p227-228. The translation of this talk was done by Dr Ameen Fareed. Notes were taken by "E. C. M." and revised by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Fareed at Montclair on the 25th of June, 1912. [LGHC410n82] Also see [LGHC165-166].
  • This same day 'Abdu'l-Bahá named Lua Getsinger "Herald of the Covenant" while in Juliet Thompson's studio for the sixth sitting for His portrait. [LGHC157]
    • See 239D:92–93 for a description of this event.
  • It was on this day that 'Abdu'l-Bahá received a manuscript from Mirzá Abu'l-Fazl. He had it translated and printed, and called it The Brilliant Proof.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pictures and portraits; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Center of the Covenant (concept); City of the Covenant (New York); Covenant; Juliet Thompson; Lua Getsinger; Names and titles; New York, USA; Portraits; United States (USA)
    1912 14–16 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá attended the eighteenth annual Conference on International Peace and Arbitration at Lake Mohonk, presenting the first address during the second session of the conference. [239D:67–9; AB193; ABF15; MD101]
    "His early public references in North America to the purpose of His visit there placed particular emphasis on the invitation of the organizing committee of the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference for Him to address this international gathering." [BWNS1297]
    • The Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration was founded in 1895 and was held annually until 1917 for the purpose of creating and directing public sentiment in favour of international arbitration, arbitration treaties, and an international court. For archives see Swarthmore College Peace Collection.
    • These meetings at Lake Mohonk were instrumental in the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. [Wikipedia]
    • Picture.
    • 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent Zia Baghdadi back to the city to obtain a carpet to be used as a gift for the president of the International Peace Society and His host, Mr Smiley. Baghdadi rode a freight train to New York, awoke the sleeping residents at 2 a.m., boarded the first train for Lake Mohonk, begged to ride on the mail run and arrived just as 'Abdu'l-Bahá was shaking Smiley's hand at 10 a.m. [Luminous Journey 58:00] iiiii
    • See Who Will Bell the Cat: 'Abdu'l-Bahá at Lake Mohonk by Janet Ruhe-Schoen.
    • See "The Cause of Universal Peace: 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact" by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson. This article looks at the circumstances around 'Abdu'l-Bahá's participation in the 1912 Lake Mohonk Arbitration Conference and the urgency and timeliness of His message over the subsequent decades. The article also reviews efforts of the Bahá'í community to promote world peace in the decades that followed.
    • See a photo of Lake Mohonk in the article The Cause of Universal Peace; 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Enduring Impact by Kathryn Jewett Hogenson.
    - Conferences, International; - International peace conferences; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Lake Mohonk, NY; Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration; New York, USA; Peace; Peace; United States (USA)
    1912 23 Aug
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Malden, Massachusetts, for a week-long stay, making trips to Boston and Cambridge. He stayed in the home of Miss Marie P. Wilson [239D:131; AB251–2; BW5p84; Abdu'l-Bahá in America 1912-2012]

    'Abdu'l-Bahá spent a total of 10 days in the house of Miss Wilson. Upon her passing in 1930 she willed the house to Shoghi Effendi and he asked the National Assembly to manage the property on his behalf. On the 27th of September, 1935 he executed a deed of trust transferring the property to the Trustees for the benefit of the NSA. [BW7p84]

    At some point during the visit He attended the wedding of Ruby Breed, the younger sister of Florence Breed. The wedding was held in the Breed home and was presided over by an Episcopalian minister. [AY96]

    On this date a short report was published in The Boston Post that noted ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s plan to speak on the pressing issue of peace. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I Bahá'í World News Service 2018-11-26]

    - Newspapers and news media (press); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Boston, MA; Cambridge, England; Malden, MA; Massachusetts, USA; United States (USA); Weddings
    1912 24 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá and the white Bahá'ís served the Black Bahá'ís at a dinner at the Kinney's. [239D:187] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Carrie Kinney; Edward Kinney; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1911 30 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá addressed the Theosophical Society in London, His last talk in England on this visit. He met the Theosophical society at their new Headquarters at the express request of their president Mrs. Annie Besant. After a general history of the movement and sympathetic words of welcome by Mr. A. P. Sinnett, 'Abdu'l-Bahá rose and delivered to the crowded assembly an address upon the distinctive notes of the Bahá'í teaching, warmly commending the eagerness of the Society in its search for Truth. The tenants of the Society were a belief in the brotherhood of man and the equality of all religions. [ABL26-30, 58 AB152, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p.19, SYH38] iiiii `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at other places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Annie Besant; London, England; Theosophical Society; United Kingdom
    1912 13 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá, very unwell, attended a reception and gave a talk to the New York Peace Society at the Hotel Astor where He was the guest of honour. [239D:67; AB192, PUP123, APD67]
  • Various personages paid tribute to Him. The Consul General of Persian, General Topakyan referred to `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Beauty of God and the Glory of the East [Luminous Journey 56:06]
  • In the evening there was a meeting at `Abdu'l-Bahá's residence with people from India and Japan. He spoke to them in detail, saying: "India had a great civilization in former times. That civilization spread from that part of Asia to Syria and Egypt; from Syria it was extended to Greece from whence it found its way to Arabia and Spain. Again, from Spain it spread over most of Europe. The world of man, however, has not yet reached its maturity. The time will come when this material civilization will be infused with divine civilization. Universal peace will be realized and people will become angelic. That will be the time of the world's maturity." [MD]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Association d’Études Bahá’íes, Europe francophone; India; New York, USA; Peace; United States (USA)
    1912 28 Jul
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá's spoke at the Parsons home. [APD79-80]
  • See 239 Days.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Dublin, Ireland; New Hampshire, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 26 Jul
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá's and His companions took up residence at one of the two Parsons home in Dublin, NH, a resort area. The house in question is named "Day-Spring". [APD7376]
  • See FMH49.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Agnes Parsons; Dublin, Ireland; New Hampshire, USA; United States (USA)
    1915 Latter half
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá's Memorials of the Faithful began to take shape. [AB417; MFXII]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá would tell stories of Bahá'í heroes and heroines to the weekly gatherings of Bahá'ís in Haifa and these were compiled and published as a book in 1924. [AB417; MFXII]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Haifa, Israel; Memorials of the Faithful (book)
    1913 10 Jul
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá went to Ismá`ílíyyah, where the weather is less humid. He took up short-term residence at the Hotel Vaseteef. [AB399–400; 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt p51] * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Egypt; Ismailia, Egypt
    1912 9 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá was taken to the Grand Trunk Railway station where departed Montreal on His way to Buffalo arrived in Buffalo by train from Montreal. [239D:139; AB265] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Montreal; Buffalo, NY; Canada; Montreal, QC; Trains
    1913 13 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá was sick and the weather was bitterly cold. He went to the studio of Professor Robert A. Nadler of the Royal Academy of Art to sit for a portrait. He gave him a total of three sittings during His visit to Budapest. [AB387, MRHK368-9]
  • "The portrait is remarkable not only because of its art, but also because of its later miraculous fate. Reportedly, after heavy bombing in 1945, only that part of the building in which the painting was hung remained unharmed." [Renée Szanto-Felbermann Two Portraits p3, Rebirth: Memoirs of Renée Szanto-Felbermann p159]
  • The painting was purchased and taken to the Bahá'í World Centre in 1972. [SBBR14p118]
  • See SBBR14p108 for a picture of the portrait.
  • In the afternoon He visited the home of Sirdar Omrah Singh. [AB387]
  • In spite of a raging blizzard a good many attended His address at the hotel in the evening. [AB387]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pictures and portraits; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Budapest, Hungary; Hungary; Portraits; Robert A. Nadler; War (general); World War II
    1912 18 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the library of J. Pierpont Morgan and inscribed his album with a blessing for his philanthropy. [239D:186–7]
  • Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Moxey, 575 Riverside Drive, New York. [PUP422]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; J. Pierpont Morgan; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 19 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá visited the grave of Thornton Chase in Inglewood. [239D:169; AB309; MD337-339]
  • The purpose of His journey to Los Angeles is to visit the grave of Thornton Chase. [AB309]
  • Upon visiting his grave 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said "This personage is worthy of having the friends visit his grave. The traces of this personage will ever shine. This is a personage who will not be forgotten. For the present his worth is not known but in the future it will be inestimably dear. His sun will ever be shining, his stars will forever bestow the light. The people will honor this grave. Therefore, the friends of God must visit this grave and on my behalf bring flowers and seek the sublimity of the spiritual station for him and have the utmost consideration for the members of his family. This personage will not be forgotten." [SoW Vol 3 No 13 4 November, 1912 p14]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said:
    "As many times as possible-at least once a year-you should make it a point to visit his tomb, for his spirit will be exhilarated through the loyalty of the friends, and in the world of God will it be happy. The friends of God must be kind to one another, whether it be in life or after death." [SoW Vol 4 No 13 p225]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Cemeteries and graves; Inglewood, CA; Thornton Chase; United States (USA)
    1912 21 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá visited Omaha, left at midnight and arrived three hours later in Lincoln, Nebraska. [239D:151]

    News reached Àbdu'l-Bahá of the impending conflict in the Balkan Peninsula. [Àbdu'l-Bahá in America

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Lincoln, NE; Nebraska, USA; Omaha, NE
    1913 17 Jul
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Ramleh. It was hoped that the drier climate would be more salubrious than the humidity of Port Said and Ismá`ílíyyah for He was still not well. He and his attendants stayed at the Victoria Hotel initially. The remainder of His party that had remained in Port Said joined Him on the 24th of July and His daughter Touba Khanum with her son Rouhi arrived from Haifa.
    At this time Ramleh was a modern Egyptian town with all the conveniences of western civilization. It was a summer resort for the most important European officials in the service of the Egyptian government and also for the native Pashas. [AB400; 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt p80]

    Note: Memories of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Ali M Yazdi says that He returned to Ramleh on the 3rd of July.

    * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Egypt; Ramleh, Egypt
    1912 3 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Milford, Pennsylvania. [AB208] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Milford, ON; Pennsylvania, USA; United States (USA)
    1913 15 Jan
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Bristol and stayed at the Clifton Guest House which belonged to Mr and Mrs Tudor-Pole. He was accompanied by the Persian ambassador, Dúst-Muhammad Khán. In the evening He addressed a meeting in the Guest House with 120 people in attendence. [AB369; Some Sacred Spaces in the United Kingdom Slides 2-21] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Bristol, England; Dust-Muhammad Khan; United Kingdom; Wellesley Tudor Pole
    1912 22 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Boston, arriving the same day. [239D:71; AB198]
  • He stayed at the Hotel Charlesgate (or Hotel Charles). [Luminous Journey 59:32; MD]
  • That evening the first meeting in Boston was held for the American Unitarian Association Conference at the Tremont Temple Baptist Church, the largest of all of the churches in the region and purported to be the first Integrated church in America. The President of the Republic, Mr Taft, was also a member of this important association. Present at the conference were some 800 Unitarian ministers representing the Unitarian churches in America and Canada. In addition, there were nearly two thousand others assembled. The presiding officer of the meeting was the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts [Robert Luce], who introduced the Master to the audience. [MD]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Boston, MA; Massachusetts, USA; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 11 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Baltimore by train and arrived at Camden Station at 11AM. He was accompanied by Dr. Ameen Fareed and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab (interpreters), Mirza Mahmud, Mirza 'Ali Akah, Mirza Valiollah Khan, Dr. Zia Bagdadi, and Saya Assadollah [239D:183; AB329]
  • At noon He spoke at the chapel of the Unitarian Church on the unity of religions and the oneness of God. The chapel was packed with Johns Hopkins University faculty members and many local professional men.
  • After the address he shared lunch at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Struven with more than 50 people.
  • He left Baltimore about 3PM and on his return to New York He passed through Philadelphia, where He met the Bahá'ís on the train platform. ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Baltimore by Allison Vaccaro and Edward E. Bartlett]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Trains; United States (USA)
    1912 8 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá took a morning train from Pittsburgh, arriving in Washington DC that night for His second visit to that city. [239D:64; AB189; SBR81]
  • He and His entourage moved into the apartment of William P. Ripley who had vacated it for this purpose. [APD59-60]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Pittsburgh, PA; Trains; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1912 9 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a capacity gathering at the Parsons' home. He noted that religious ministers in Washington were denouncing Him and the Cause. [APD61-63] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Agnes Parsons; Opposition; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1912 8 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá spoke at Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto. [239D:166 AB288, PUP348; ]
  • There were two thousand in the audience. [AB288]
  • "He spoke to fifteen hundred students". .. [LGHC176]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at universities; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Palo Alto, CA; United States (USA); Universities
    1917 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá sent a message to the Bahá'ís of the world assuring them of His safety. [AB412]
  • The Tablet was carried by an aged Arab Bahá'í, Hájí Ramadán. It took him 45 days to walk from `Akká to Tihrán. On his return trip he brought gold and messages. [AB412; CH206-7]
  • For text of the Tablet see CH207-8.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Haifa, Israel; Hájí Ramadan; Tehran, Iran; World War I
    1917 2 Feb-8 Mar
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá revealed six Tablets of the Divine Plan. [AB422; BBD219, Message 29 December 2015]
  • As there was no communication with America at that time, the Tablets were stored in a vault under the Shrine of the Báb. [BBD219]
  • The Tablets can be found at TDP on the pages indicated:
  • 9th (Page 14)Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Northeastern States. Revealed on February 2, 1917, in Ismá'íl Áqá's room at the house of 'Abdu'l‑Bahá in Haifa, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the nine Northeastern States of the United States: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
  • 10th (Page 16)Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Southern States. Revealed on February 3, 1917, in Haifa in Ismá'íl Áqá's room, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the sixteen Southern States of the United States: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
  • 11th (Page 18)Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Central States. Revealed on February 8, 1917, in Bahá'u'lláh's room at the house of Abbúd in 'Akká, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the twelve Central States of the United States: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
  • 12th (Page 20)Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the Western States. Revealed on February 15, 1917, in Bahá'u'lláh's room at the house of Abbúd in 'Akká, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the eleven Western States of the United States: New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
  • 13th (Page 21)Tablet to the Bahá'ís of Canada and Greenland. Revealed on February 21, 1917, in Bahá'u'lláh's room at the house of Abbúd in 'Akká, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of Canada—Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Mackenzie, Keewatin, Ungava, Franklin Islands—and Greenland.
  • 14th (Page 23)Tablet to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada. Revealed on March 8, 1917, in the summerhouse (Ismá'íl Áqá's room) at 'Abdu'l‑Bahá's house in Haifa, and addressed to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Báb, Shrine of (Haifa); Haifa, Israel; Tablets of the Divine Plan
    1913 8 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to Stuttgart, then left in the evening for Budapest, changing trains in Vienna the next morning. To this date no travel teacher had visited Budapest and there were no resident believers. [ABM316]
  • The trip was made at the invitation of, among others, Mr and Mrs Lipót Stark. the Secretary General of the Theosophical Society, who had given a lecture entitled "The Bahá'í Movement" on the 25th of February, 1912 and the text of the lecture had been published in the Esperanto periodical Teozofia (Theosophical). [SBBR14p110]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá was accompanied by Wilhelm Herrigel to serve to translate into German. [AB384]
  • For further information on His time in Budapest see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest by György Lederer in Bahá'ís in the West SBBR Vol 14 pp109-126
  • See as well The Utterance Project 9-18 April 1913
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Budapest, Hungary; Germany; Hungary; Stuttgart, Germany; Trains; Wilhelm Herrigel
    1912 4 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to New York. [AB208] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 1 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to New York. [AB206]
  • He had His first sitting for the portrait painted by Juliet Thompson. [DJT299]
  • He sat for her a total of six times but she could paint in only three of the sessions. The last session was on June 19, 1912.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pictures and portraits; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Juliet Thompson; New York, USA; Portraits; United States (USA)
    1912 30 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to New York after visiting Mr Topakyan, the Persian Consul General, in Morristown. [239D:103; AB225–6] - Consuls; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Morristown, NJ; New Jersey, USA; New York, USA; Topakyan, Mr.; United States (USA)
    1913 10 Jan
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to London departing from Waverly Station at 11 AM and arriving at Euston Station at 7 PM. He returned to the home of Lady Blomfield at 97 Cadogan Gardens. She devotedly placed her whole apartment at His disposal, whilst she herself (certainly in 1913) stayed a few moments away with Lady Elcho in 62 Cadogan Square (now likely 58). [AB368, SCU109-113, Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913, David Merrick p8]
  • It was the start of His third visit to England and last visit to England and lasted 11 days.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; London, England; United Kingdom
    1913 16 Jan
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá returned to London and spoke at 97 Cadogan Gardens. He spoke about the diversity of those entering the Faith and the recommended way to conduct a meeting. [AB370, ABTM302-303] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; London, England; United Kingdom
    1912 24 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá received many expensive Christmas gifts; He turned them all away by returning them and asking the donors to sell them and give the money to the poor.
  • That evening He visited the Salvation Army Shelter in Westminster. That night there were 1,000 men present. After His talk He departed but not before leaving twenty gold sovereigns and many handfuls of silver with Col Spencer for a similar dinner to be held on New Year's Eve. [ABTM282-283]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Charity and relief work; Gifts; London, England; United Kingdom
    1913 18 Jan
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá received guests from the Muslim Community of Britain and was asked to speak at the Shah Jehan Mosque at Woking, one of the two mosques in England at the time and the first built in England and perhaps Western Europe. He spoke on the subject of the Unity of Religions and translation was done by Mírzá Ahmad Sohrab. [CH152, AB370, BW3p278-279, BW4p377]
  • Note ABTM303 reports that this event took place on the 17th of January.
  • Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner (1840–1899) was the builder of the Oriental Institute, founded to train Asians living in Europe for the learned professions, to the study of linguistics and culture, and for the teaching of languages to Europeans who wished to travel to the East. To cater for the spiritual needs of students of all major faiths and to provide for any who lived within reach, Dr. Leitner intended to build a synagogue, a church, a temple and a mosque. Only the Shah Jehan Mosque was completed. (Oct-Nov 1889). The Institute relied too heavily upon Dr. Leitner's personal enthusiasm and wealth and it did not survive his early death in March of 1899. The Mosque was closed and practically empty between 1899 and 1912. Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din, a prominent Kashmiri lawyer and founder of the Woking Muslim Mission, worked to repair and re-open the Mosque in 1913. It was the first formal place of Islamic worship in England and became a centre of Islam in the UK. [Dr. Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner]
  • For a photo of the gathering see BW3p280 or BWNS818.
  • * Interfaith dialogue; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Mosques; Surrey, BC; United Kingdom; Unity of religion; Woking, England
    1912 11 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Washington for New York City, arriving the same day. [239D:64–5, AB190, APD66-67]
  • Talk at the Hudson Apartment House at 227 Riverside Drive, New York. [PUP111, DJT282]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at other places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; New York, USA; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1913 24 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Vienna and returned to Stuttgart, where He arrived in the early hours of the next morning. [AB389]
  • This marked the end of HIs visit to Austria where He had spent 6 days.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Austria; Germany; Stuttgart, Germany; Vienna, Austria
    1913 1 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Stuttgart and returned to Paris. [AB391]
  • The start of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's fourth and last visit to France. It lasted 1 month and 12 days.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; France; Germany; Paris, France; Stuttgart, Germany
    1912 18 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left San Francisco for Los Angeles, arriving the same day. [239D:169; AB309]

    Having heard that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was in Los Angeles, Mabel Rice-Wray took children Edris and Colston to the hotel where the Master was staying. They spent over an hour with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His room. Both Edris and Colston sat on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's knee and were given cookies. Some years later, in response to a letter from their mother, 'Abdu'l-Bahá bestowed the name Rawshan ("brilliance") on Edris, and Ruqi on Colston, and revealed in their honour the well-known prayer for children that begins: "O my Lord! O my Lord! I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy ... " [Find a grave Edris Rawshan Wray]

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá, prayers of; Los Angeles, CA; Mabel Rice-Wray Ives; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA)
    1912 10 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Philadelphia and returned to New York, arriving the same day. [239D:88; AB211] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; New York, USA; Philadelphia, PA; United States (USA)
    1913 12 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Paris for Marseilles, arriving the same evening. [AB395]

    In total 'Abdu'-Bahá spent about 171 days in Paris.

    3 October to 2 December 1911 - 60 days          
     21 January to 30 March 1913 - 69 days          
           1 May to 12 June 1913 - 42 days          
                          Total   171 days          
  • See David Merrick's map for the places visited by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris.
  • See PG117-118 for 'Abdu'l-Bahá continuing concern for Paris in 1919.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; France; Marseilles, France; Paris, France
    1911 2 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Paris for Marseilles by train from the Gare de Lyon arriving late in the day. Little is known about His stay in that city save for one talk. [ABF246]
  • See ABF256-260 for some of the places that 'Abdu'l-Baha visited while in Paris for which the visits are undated. Included in the list is His visit to the Senat of the French Republic [PUP72].
  • There are also a number of undated talks and fragments of talks the have been published in a variety of sources. [ABF261-264]
  • See ABF264-268 for a list of persons with whom 'Abdu'l-Bahá had undocumented visits.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; France; Marseilles, France; Paris, France
    1912 23 Jul
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left New York, arriving in Boston the same day for His second visit. [239D:117; AB233]
  • Talk at Hotel Victoria, corner of Newbury and Dartmouth Sts, Boston, Massachusetts. [PUP238]
  • For an interesting story about Nancy Douglas Bowditch see Wikipedia.
  • Also see The Artist's Daughter: Memoirs, 1890 - 1979 the autobiography of Nancy Douglas Bowditch.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Boston, MA; Massachusetts, USA; Nancy Douglas Bowditch; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1913 13 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Marseilles on the S. S. Himalaya for Port Said. Sailing with Him were: Mirza Ali-/akbar Nakhjavani, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, SIyyid Asadu'llah-i-Qumi and Mahmud Zarqani. [AB395; ABF667-669]
  • He sent a telegram to Haifa instructing the many pilgrims awaiting His return to come to Port Said. Because of the great numbers who came, there wasn't sufficient hotel accommodations and a large tent was erected on the roof in which to hold meetings. [SoW Vol 4 No 7 p121]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Egypt; France; Marseilles, France; Pilgrims; Port Said, Egypt; S. S. Himalaya; Ships
    1912 30 Aug
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Malden for Boston. He left Boston by train for Montreal, arriving at midnight. [239D:132; AB132; BW8:637]
  • He stayed in Montreal for ten days, living for four nights at the Maxwell residence. [239D:132]
  • See also `Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Montreal; Boston, MA; Canada; Malden, MA; Maxwell residence, Montreal, QC; May Maxwell; Montreal, QC; Montreal Shrine; Trains; William Sutherland Maxwell
    1912 21 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Los Angeles for San Francisco. [AB310] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA)
    1913 21 Jan
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left London for Paris. [AB371]
  • The visit to Paris lasts several weeks. [AB372; SBR220]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; France; London, England; Paris, France; United Kingdom
    1912 27 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Glenwood Springs for Salt Lake City. [239D:159] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Denver, CO; Glenwood Springs, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; United States (USA)
    1912 30 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Denver for Chicago. [239D:175] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; United States (USA)
    1912 26 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Denver and arrived in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. [239D:158] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Colorado, USA; Denver, CO; Glenwood Springs, CO; United States (USA)
    1912 7 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Cleveland for Pittsburgh, arriving the same day. [239D:63; AB189]
  • Martha Root arranged for Him to talk at the Hotel Schenley to 400 people followed by private meetings with leaders of thought. The hotel is now the University of Pittsburgh's Student Union building, known as the William Pitt Union. [PUP105; Luminous Journey 55:00; Schenley Hotel]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; United States (USA)
    1912 6 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Chicago, arriving in Cleveland the same day. [239D:57; AB189]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave interviews to reporters at the Euclid Hotel. [Luminous Journey 54:00]
  • Talk at the home of Dr. C. M. Swingle to an audience of forty. [PUP104; SoW Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 5-6]
  • Talk at Euclid Hall to an audience of some 500 people. [PUP101; SoW Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 29-32.]
  • "The American continent gives signs and evidences of very great advancement; its future is even more promising, for its influence and illumination are far-reaching, and it will lead all nations spiritually." – Abdu'l-Baha, PUP104.
  • Both the Cleveland News and the Cleveland Plain Dealer carried articles on 'Abdu'l-Bahá's approval of marriage between the races. [SYH60]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Ohio, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 4 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Chicago and arrived in Cincinnati the same day. [239D:179] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Ohio, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 12 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Buffalo for Chicago, passing by Niagara Falls and arriving at about 8PM at the LaSalle Station where He was received by the awaiting friends. Among them was Saichiro Fujita. [239D:142; MD257-259]
  • He went to the home of Corinne True by automobile. [239D:142; AB266]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Corinne True; United States (USA)
    1913 18 or 19 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Budapest and travelled to Vienna by rail, reaching the city in the evening and taking residence in the Grand Hotel.

    Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said: "the freedom of Europeans, that an individual is free to do whatsoever he desires as long as he does not harm any other person," and says "In the religion of God, there is no freedom of action. Man cannot transgress the law of God, even if no harm is done to others. For the purpose of the law of God is education, for others and for oneself. In the sight of God, to harm oneself is the same as to harm someone else, and both are blameworthy." [Message 9 May 2014]

  • It is estimated that some 30 people accepted the Faith during His visit. [AB388, SBBR14p120]
  • In 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt p80 it is reported that a bust of 'Abdu'l-Bahá was made during His time in Vienna. Two copies were received in Port Said via Stuttgart on the 18th of July, 1913, one intended for Ahmad Sohrab and the other for Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání.
  • Also see Martha Root: Herald of the Kingdom by Kay Zinky pp361-374 for "Àbdu-l-Bahá's Visit to Budapest".
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pictures and portraits; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Egypt; Hungary; Port Said, Egypt; Trains; Vienna, Austria
    1912 26 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá left Boston and returned to New York, arriving in the evening. [239D:73; AB201]
  • Talk at Mount Morris Baptist Church, Fifth Avenue and 126th Street, New York. [PUP147]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Boston, MA; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 1 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá laid the cornerstone of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Wilmette. [SYH67-68, CT102; 239D:51; AB186; GPB288, 349; MBW143; Luminous Journey 47:00]
  • Talk at Dedication of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár Grounds. [PUP71]
  • The cornerstone had been offered by Mrs Nettie Tobin, a member of the Women's Teaching Assembly. [AB186]
  • See SYH65-66 for the story of how the Foundation Stone made it to the building site.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá asked delegates from the various Bahá'í communities and Bahá'ís from different backgrounds each to dig the earth to lay the stone. Corrine True, Lua Getsinger and several other women turned the sod. After the stone had been laid 'Abdu'l-Bahá declared that "The temple is already built." [AB186–7; Luminous Journey 47:00]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Chicago, IL; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Nettie Tobin; United States (USA); Wilmette, IL
    1912 16 Aug
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá journeyed to Green Acre by car, arriving the same day. [239D:123; AB240]
  • Talk at Green Acre, Eliot, Maine. [PUP253]
  • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's activities while in Green Acre see AB240–51.
  • For the story of Fred Mortensen see 239D:126–9 and AB247–51.
  • See also Green Acre on the Piscataqua.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Cars; Eliot, ME; Fred Mortensen; Green Acre Bahá’í School; Maine, USA; United States (USA)
    1914 29 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá instructed the remaining pilgrims in the Holy Land to leave. [AB406]
  • CH191 says the American pilgrims left on the last boat from Haifa to Alexandria on 15 Jan. 1915.
  • Haifa, Israel; Pilgrims
    1912 29 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá hosted a Unity Feast in the Evergreen Cabin at the Wilhelm properties in West Englewood, New Jersey. [239D:102; AB223, PUP213]
  • For pictures of this event see 239D:100–1.
  • Some years later, in 1953, Curtis Kelsey helped to rebuild and enlarge Evergreen Cabin, built on the spot where 'Abdu'l-Baha was host at the first Unity Feast in America. [BW15p470]
  • See Shoghi Effendi's comments to Roy Wilhelm about West Englewood, 14 November 1932. [BN No 80 January 1934 p5]
  • A Brief History of Roy Wilhelm and the Annual Souvenir Unity Feast of 'Abdu'l-Bahá by Joel Nizin.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Evergreen cabin; New Jersey, USA; Roy C. Wilhelm; United States (USA); Unity Feast; West Englewood, NJ
    1912 18 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá had instructed MacNutt to meet with a group of potential Covenant-breakers in Chicago and warn them of the danger. He also ordered MacNutt to break all communication with Ibrahim Kheiralla and other Covenant-breakers. He had failed to do as directed. They met in the Kenny's home for the first time since his trip, where `Abdu'l-Bahá advised him that he had violated the Covenant himself and commanded him to repent before a group of New York Bahá'ís gathered there, which he did, reluctantly. [DJT371; AY121] Covenant-breaking; Howard MacNutt; Ibrahim George Kheiralla; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 28 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá gave private interviews in the morning then called on the Turkish Ambassador, Diya Pasha. [APD56-59] . He spent considerable time with the Turkish ambassador, Zia Pasha while in Washington. [AY86-87; Luminous Journey 36:45]
  • For a list of some of the well-known individuals whom the Khans brought into 'Abdu'l-Bahá's presence see AY88.
  • During His time in Washington He toured the Library of Congress with the Parsons. He went to the Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to the graves of the parents of Agnes Parsons. [Luminous Journey 31:56]
  • At some point during His stay in Washington former president Theodore Roosevelt came to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the Parsons' residence. Mahmud reports that this took place on April 25, after the reception at the Turkish Embassy. [Luminous Journey 34:26; MD]
  • Alice Pike Barney, the influential artist and thespian and an important member of the Washington arts scene, hosted a luncheon and two evening receptions at her studio for 'Abdu'l-Bahá. She had met Him earlier when she accompanied her daughter Laura to Akka in 1905. [Luminous Journey 34:59]
  • Ali Kuli Khan, one of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's former secretaries in Akka and who, by this time was the chargé d'affairs at the Persian Legation, tried to arrange a meeting for 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the White House and for Him to speak to the Congress but scheduling did not work out. He hosted receptions for 'Abdu'l-Bahá and arranged for prominent diplomats to met Him. [Luminous Journey 36:00]
  • At a meeting at the Persian Legation where a meal was being served, 'Abdu'l-Bahá and arranged for the place of honour on His right for African-American lawyer Louis George Gregory. At this time he was a thirty-seven-year-old, Fisk- and Howard-educated African American lawyer from Charleston, South Carolina. He was president of the Bethel Literary and Historical Association, the oldest African American organization in Washington and he was one of the most prominent members of the capital's African American community. Even so, at this time in Washington where one third of the population was Black, it was expected that he would not eat with Whites. [Luminous Journey 38:36; 239Days Day 12]
  • At this time there were only about 15 Black Bahá'ís in the Washington Community and events were not fully integrated following the example in the segregated city. Pauline and Joseph Hannen held integrated gatherings and became proponents of racial integration. [Luminous Journey 42:00]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá left Washington for Chicago. [239D:46; AB184; SBR81]
    • Accompanying Him were Louise Mathew and Mrs Moss, a stenographer. [SYH62]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Chicago some 12 hours late due to mechanical failure. [239D:47]
  • - Ambassadors; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.; Chicago, IL; Louise Gregory; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1911 3 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk that has been entitled, "Eleven essentials: the Bahai principles as taught by Abdu'l-Baha in London". ['Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks]

    He left London for Paris. [AB154; SBR25, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p22]

  • See ABL113 for details of His last day in London. He left from Victoria Station.
  • He was accompanied by many Bahá'ís from England who attended many of the public meeting at which He spoke in Paris. This group included Marion Jack, Ethel Rosenberg, Lady Bloomfield and her two daughters. [NBAD47, SYH42]
  • He remained in Paris for nine weeks. [AB159; GPB280]
  • For details of His visit see AB159–68.
  • For `Abdu'l-Bahá's talks given in Paris see PT.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; France; London, England; Marion Jack; Paris, France; United Kingdom
    1913 2 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá boarded a Lloyd Triestino boat (then called Lloyd Austriaco) bound for Haifa with stops at Port Said and Jaffa. [AB402]

    "Having raised the warning and urged the world to work for peace, 'Abdu'l-Bahá returned on 5 December 1913 to Haifa, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Aware of the coming war, He took steps to protect the Bahá'í community under His stewardship and to avert a famine in the region. One of His first decisions upon returning to the Holy Land was to send home all the Bahá'ís who were visiting from abroad." [BWNS1297]

    * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Egypt; Haifa, Israel; Jaffa, Israel; Lloyd Triestino (ship); Port Said, Egypt; Ships
    1912 6 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Washington DC. [239D:179]
  • Talk at Universalist Church, Thirteenth and L Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. [PUP390]
      In this talk He made reference to the situation in the Balkans:
      "How savage and fearful the ferocity of man against his fellowman! Consider what is taking place now in the Balkans, what blood is being shed. Even the wild beasts and ferocious animals do not commit such acts. The most ferocious wolf kills but one sheep a day, and even that for his food. But now in the Balkans one man destroys ten fellow beings. The commanders of armies glory in having killed ten thousand men, not for food, nay, rather, for military control, territorial greed, fame and possession of the dust of the earth. They kill for national aggrandizement, notwithstanding this terrestrial globe is but a dark world of grossest matter. It is a world of sorrow and grief, a world of disappointment and unhappiness, a world of death.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1912 1 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in San Francisco about midnight. [239D:165; AB286] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; California, USA; San Francisco, CA; United States (USA)
    1912 28 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Salt Lake City. [239D:159] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Salt Lake City, UT; United States (USA)
    1912 12 Nov
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in New York at 1:00 a.m. He and His party stayed at the "Champney House" located on Riverside Drive near the Hudson River at 309 West 78th Street. [AB329]
  • Shoghi Effendi later urged the National Spiritual Assembly acquiring this property as a national executive centre. [MM2p24-25]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Champney House, New York; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1912 21 Jun
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Montclair, New Jersey for a 9 day stay. [239D:97; AB221] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Montclair, NJ; New Jersey, USA; United States (USA)
    1911 4 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in London accompanied by His secretary, Mírzá Mahmúd and Khusraw, His servant. This marked His first visit to the country and lasted 29 days. [ABL53, AB140; GBP280; SBR22, 148, BW4p378, In the Footsteps of the Master p.5]
  • CH149 says He arrived 8 September and 3 September as per the UK Bahá'í site.
  • Those Bahá'ís who assembled to meet him were listed as: Lady Blomfield (in whose home at 97 Cadogan Gardens He stayed), Mrs Thornburg-Cropper, Miss Ethel Rosenberg, Miss Gamble, Miss Herrick, Mrs Scaramucci, Miss Elsie Lee, Mr Catanach, Mr Cuthbert, Mr and Mrs Jenner, Miss Yandell, Miss Julia Culver, Mrs Stannard, Mr and Mrs Eric Hammond, The Rev Harrold Johnston, The Rev Cooper Hunt, Miss Juliet Thompson, Mrs Louise Waite, Mrs Movius, Mrs Claudia Coles, Mr Mountfort Mills, Mr Mason Remey and Miss Drake Wright. Mr and Mrs Dreyfus-Barney provided translation. In addition there were a number of Persians who took the opportunity to meet Him. [BW4p377]
  • As described by Lady Blomfield those who came to see him were: "Ministers and missionaries, Oriental scholars and occult students practical men of affairs and mystics, Anglican-Catholics and Nonconformists, Theosophists and Hindus, Christian Scientists and doctors of medicine, Muslims, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. There also called: politicians, Salvation Army soldiers, and other workers for human good, women suffragists, journalists, writers, poets and healers dress-makers and great ladies, artists and artisans, poor workless people and prosperous merchants, members of the dramatic and musical world, these all came; and none were too lowly nor too great to receive the sympathetic consideration of this holy Messenger, who was ever giving His life for others' good." In addition there was a representation from the Bramo-Somaj Society, a Hindu reform group. [CH150-152]
  • See BW4p377 where Lady Blomfield reported that Prince Jalalu'd-Dawlih entreated to be received by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and when in His presence fell prostrate and implored pardon for his crimes. (see 1891 19 May) [BW4p377]
  • Among the list of visitors were: Professor Edward Granville Browne, Mr Tudor-Pole, Emmeline Pankhurst, a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. [BW4p377]
  • See BW4p381 for the story of a homeless, suicidal man who had seen a picture of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in a newspaper in a shop window.
  • See BW4p382-383 for the story of the persistent journalist who imposed upon the appointment of two ladies from Scotland who had journeyed all that day and intended to make the return voyage that same evening.
  • For details of His stay in England see AB140–58 and GPB283–5.
  • It is implied that 'Abdu'l-Bahá was attended by Dr Lutfu-lláh Hakím while in London. [BW4p380]
  • During His stay in London 'Abdu'l-Bahá received death threats by anonymous letter and he was advised to give up He planned journey to Egypt. He ignored them. [BW4p 387]
  • During His stay in London He had professional photographs of Himself taken by the Irish photographer, James Lafayette (1853-1923). "...to have a picture of oneself is to emphasise the personality, which is merely the lamp, and is quite unimportant. The light burning within the lamp has the only real significance." [SBR25, BW4p383-384, ABF84]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Death threats to; `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pictures and portraits; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Charles Mason Remey; E. G. Browne; Emmeline Pankhurst; Ethel Rosenberg; Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney; Jalálu'd-Din-Dawlih; James Lafayette; Juliet Thompson; Khusraw; London, England; Louise Waite; Lutfullah Hakim; Mary Virginia Thornburgh-Cropper (Maryam Khánum); Mírzá Mahmud-i-Zarqani; Mountfort Mills; Portraits; United Kingdom; Wellesley Tudor Pole
    1912 13 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Liverpool aboard the S. S. Celtic at about 9PM. He was met by dozens of Bahá'ís from Liverpool, Manchester and Leads as well as Hippolyte Drefus-Barney who had come from Paris. [AB343; SBR38, ABTM273-4] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Liverpool, England; S. S. Celtic; Ships; United Kingdom
    1912 23 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Denver in the afternoon. [239D:152; SoG221-222; MD282-283] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Denver, CO; United States (USA)
    1912 28 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Denver at midnight. [239D:175; AB316] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Denver, CO; United States (USA)
    1912 31 Oct
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Chicago and gave a talk at the Plaza Hotel. The subject of this talk was The Covenant. [239D:176; PUP381].
  • It is likely that 'Abdu'l-Bahá encountered Rabindranath Tagore who was to become a well-known Bengali poet and musician who would reshape Bengali literature and music and be the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. [Rabindranath Tagore: Some Encounters with Bahá'ís by Peter Terry; Wikipedia]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at public places; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Bengal Renaissance; Chicago, IL; India; Rabindranath Tagore; United States (USA)
    1913 9 Apr
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Budapest and He was met by a delegation at Keleti pu Ostbahnhof (Eastern Train Station). Another welcoming party had been waiting for Him at the Western station where a train had arrived from Vienna. He was escorted to the Ritz Hotel (now called the Hotel Forum) on the Pest side where He was further welcomed by a delegation of citizens. To compensate for the fact that many had missed His arrival at the train station, He held a press conference in the hotel lobby. [AB384, SBBR14p110]
  • For details of His visit see AB384–8 and MRHK362–70 and 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest by Alice Schwartz-Salivo.
  • See Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Budapest on the Hungarian Community website. There you will find information on the places visited by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest.
  • See 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest by Gyorgy Lederer in SBBH14p102, 109-126.
  • See 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Budapest found in SoW Vol 24 Issue3 June 1933 p85.

    "…it was His hope that Budapest might become a centre for the reunion of the East and the West, and that from this city the light might emanate to other places." ['Abdu'l-Bahá in Budapest p1; BWNS303; MRHK363]

  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Budapest, Hungary; Hungary
    1913 6 Jan
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá and His party, Síyyíd Asadu'lláh-i-Qumí, His attendant, Ahmad Sohrab, His interpreter and Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, His secretary, departed by train and arrive in Edinburgh's Waverly Station in the late afternoon. This marked the start of His only visit to Scotland,. It lasted 4 days. [SCU68]
  • Also with 'Abdul-Bahá during His time in Edinburgh were Lady Blomfield and Alice Buckton and a young Persian student, Lutful'lláh Hakím.
  • On the train He told the story of Miss Wardlaw-Ramsay of the Church Missionary Society who was a missionary in 'Acca for some 40 years. She was antagonistic to the Cause but the Master showed her all manner of kindness because she was very faithful to her Christ. When she left Akka and returned to Scotland He gave a party for her. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, Edinburgh, 1913 p5; SBBE1p76]
  • Upon arrival He was taken to the home of Mrs Jane Elizabeth Whyte (neé Barbour) (1857-1944) at 7 Charlotte Square. She had met 'Abdu'l-Bahá before. She and her friend, Mrs Thornburgh-Cropper, had been invited to visit her sister who was on an extended stay in Egypt during the winter of 1905-6. In March they made a visit to 'Akká. By 1912 she had become a member of the "Council" established to promote the Faith in Britain. The Whytes, along with the Theosophical Society, had been instrumental in arranging Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to Edinburgh. ['Abdu'l-Baha in Edinburgh: The Diary of Ahmad Sohrab by Ahmad Sohrab]
  • Mrs Whyte's account of her meeting in 1906 is in her book Seven Candles of Unity, pp 47-49. and in her book entitled Seven Candles of Unity: the Story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Edinburgh (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1991). [Scottish Women: A Documentary History, 1780-1914 by Esther Breitenbach and Linda Fleming p.213]
  • Her husband, Mr Alexander Whyte (1837-1921) was a Scottish divine; a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, he became colleague and successor of Dr R S Candlish at Free St Georges (now St George's West, 58 Shandwick Place), and then principal and professor of New Testament literature at New College, Edinburgh. [AB355, 363–8; SBR26]
  • Miss Isobel Fraser served as the advance publicity agent for the visit.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Edinburgh, Scotland; Isabel Fraser Chamberlain; Scotland; Trains; United Kingdom
    1912 28 May
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá and His party were evicted from their hotel because of the `coming and going of diverse people' and the `additional labours and troubles' caused to the staff. [239D:74]

    Talk at Reception at Metropolitan Temple, Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street, New York. [PUP150]

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; New York, USA; United States (USA)
    1911 17 Sep
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá addressed the congregation of St John's, Westminster, His second address to a Western audience. He also met with members of the Salvation Army who were singing outside. [ABL21-25, AB145; SBR8, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p13, SYH38]
  • For text of His talk see AB147–8 and 'Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks.
  • He spoke at the invitation of Archdeacon of Westminster, Albert Wilberforce, grandson of famed abolitionist William Wilberforce. The invitation had been extended to Him during a private audience in the home of Lady Blomfield. [CH153-154]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent an invitation to the Archdeacon asking him to meet with Him. He turned Him down with a message, "We are all one behind the veil." 'Abdu'l-Bahá replied, "...and the veil is thinning quite." When Wilberforce met with 'Abdu'l-Bahá he found that there was no separation between them. [Ahmad Sohrab's Diary - The Great Tour p99]
  • See also Star of the West Vol. II No. 12, p. 12.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; London, England; United Kingdom; Westminster, England
    1912 4 Dec
    191-
    `Abdu'l-Bahá addressed His last meeting in North America with a talk to Theosophical Society, 2228 Broadway, New York. [239D:193, PUP462] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; New York, USA; Theosophical Society; United States (USA)
    1913 14 Apr
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá's plan had been to leave but His departure was delayed due to a request from the president of the Túránian Society, Count Pal Teleki, who later became the Hungarian Prime Minister two times.
  • In the afternoon 'Abu'l-Bahá visited Arminius Vambéry at his home again and some time later sent him a tablet and a carpet by the post. It was reported in "Star of the West" (February 1929) that this tablet was in possession of Arminius's son, Rusztem Vámbéry. [SBBR14p115, 125, AB387, SoW9Vol9p24]
    • See BW5p329 for the testament written by Professor Vámbéry and published in the Egyptian Gazette September 24th, 1913.
    • See SUR73 for the story of Arminius Vámbéry, while travelling with a caravan and disguised as a dervish, encountered another caravan loaded with coffins bound for burial in the vicinity of the Shrines in Karbilá'.
    • See The Dervish of Windsor Castle: The Life of Arminius Vambery by Lory Alder and Richard Dalby.
  • At a meeting of the Túránian Society in the grand hall of the National Museum 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a lecture entitled "Peace Between Nations and Religions" to some 200 people. The talk was translated into Hungarian by Leopold Stark and into English by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. [SBBR14p113; ABM318; Talk by Abdu'l-Baha Given in Budapest to the Turanian Society on 14 April 1913 (Provisional)]
  • 'Alí Abbás Áqá, a Tabrízí carpet merchant, hosted a dinner party in His honour. Among those attending was the Turkish Consul. [AB387, MRHK367, SBBR14p113]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Alí Abbas Áqá; Arminius Vambery; Budapest, Hungary; Count Pal Teleki; Hungary; Iraq; Karbala, Iraq; Leopold Stark
    1917 3 Apr
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá's exhortation on China was published in the Star of the West on the 28th of April, 1917. "China, China, China, China-ward the Cause of Baha'o'llah must march! Where is that holy, sanctified Bahai to become the teacher of China! China has most great capability. The Chinese people are most simple-hearted and truth-seeking." and "China is the country of the future." [SotW_Vol-01 (Mar 1910)-Vol-10 (Mar 1919) p2127/2922]
  • See as well PG99-100 for His Tablet to Chen Ting Mo.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Writings and talks of; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Chen Ting Mo; China; Pioneering; Travel teaching
    1911 23 Aug
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá went for a carriage ride in the nearby hills. ["With 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Switzerland" by Juliet Thompson, SoW Vol 2 no 14 (Nov 23, 1911) p9-13, ABF15]
    • Later that day, by chance, 'Abdu'l-Bahá encountered the Persian prince, Sultán-Mas'ud Mírzá Zillu's-Sultán (1850-1918), the eldest son of Násirid-/dín Sháh, (1850-1918) in the Parc Hotel. He was in voluntary exile in Europe accompanied by his four sons. At various times, he had been the governor or governor-general of various provinces in Iran from 1862 to 1907 and had persecuted the Bahá'ís zealously. He was responsible for ratifying the execution of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs in 1879. Upon meeting 'Abdu'l-Bahá he presented his excuses but 'Abdu'l-Bahá forgave him by saying "All those things are in the past. Never think of them again." [DJT172-3, ABF17; ABW411]
    • Annie Boylan arrived in Thonon-les-Bains from America by way of Lausanne. 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have told her that the building of the Shrine of the Báb was the fulfillment of the prophecy that "the Lord would come and rebuild the temple that had been torn down". He added that the Tomb of the Báb and that of Bahá'u'lláh were considered the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar. [SoW vol 11. no. 1 (March 21, 1920) p1-15, ABF18] iiiii
      • Annie Boylan had been on pilgrimage in October of 1908. [WMSH60]
      .
    * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution, Other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; Annie Boylan; France; Iran; Isfahan, Iran; King of Martyrs and Beloved of Martyrs; Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (King of Martyrs); Mírzá Muhammad-Husayn (Beloved of Martyrs); Thonon-les-Bains, France; Zillus-Sultan
    1911 22 Sep
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá visited the home of Misses Marion Jack and Elizabeth Herrick, at 10 Cheniston Gardens, Wright's Lane (sometimes given as 137a High Street, Kensington). About 80 people were present. [ABL48-49, In the Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá p14; SoW Vol 2 No 12 October 16, 1911 p5]
  • The talk was stenographically recorded and published as Discourse by 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the Unity Meeting of Misses Jack and Herrick. September 22nd, 1911. For full text see NBAD233-234 as well as WUAB1236-1237.
  • * Publications; `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at homes; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Elizabeth Herrrick; London, England; Marion Jack; United Kingdom
    1912 14 Dec
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá stayed in Liverpool at the Adelphi Hotel (now known as the Britannia Adelphi hotel). His first talk was to the Theosophical Society. [ABTM274, SoW Vol III No17 9Jan1913 p3; A Supplement to Àbdu'l-Bahá in Europe, 1912-1913 p11; ABE25-27]
  • The Star of the West published an account of His crossing and the news of His arrival in Liverpool.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Liverpool, England; Theosophical Society; United Kingdom
    1912 4 Aug
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a group of 28 black people on the importance of unity and friendship between the races and announced that Louise Mathew and Louis Gregory were to be married. [SYH71]
  • Mahmúd, page 189-190 stated that this event took place on the 2nd of August.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Dublin, Ireland; Louis G. Gregory; Louise Gregory; New Hampshire, USA; United States (USA)
    1913 14 Jan
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke in the East End of London at a Congregational Church. [CH168, AB369, ABTM299] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at churches; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; London, England; United Kingdom
    1911 24 Nov
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about the press coverage given to a train accident that claimed the lives of some 20 people in Paris the previous day. He compared this to the apparent indifference to the news that 5,000 people had been killed in the bombing in Tripoli as the Turkish-Italian war raged on there. [ABF221-223; The Cruel Indifference of People towards the Suffering of Foreign Races]

    In a comment not in the transcript of the talk in Promulgation of Universal Peace He is recorded as having said that the Italians left their country:

      "in order to persecute the poor Arabs…is nothing else than avarice and greediness".

      To Him the occupation of Libya was "an illegal assault.

      [Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine by Kamran Ekbal p19]

    • Later in the day He spoke at the home of Mademoiselle Gastea, An Address on Truth. It was published in SoW Vol 2 No 18 February,1912 p3-6.
    `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks other; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Colonialism and imperialism; Paris, France
    1911 10 Mar
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá sent Lua Getsinger and Dr Ameen Farid to California where they spoke to some 5,000 people delivering lectures on "Bahá'í Reformation" or referring to it in the course of lectures on other subjects. She spent two weeks visiting friends in Chicago and then departed for California on the 10th of March. [LGHC123]
  • Among the groups contacted were the Scottish Rite Masons, the Knights Templar, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, some literary clubs, a Unitarian congregation in Almeda, a large group of Japanese, the "World's Spiritual Congress", the Church of the Golden Rule, the Auxiliary of the Juvenile Court, with Persian, Turkish, Egyptian and Jewish ladies, the Federation of Women's club, the faculty members of the University of California and of Stanford University, the crew of the battleship S.S. California, and prisoners in San Quentin. They also went to Tijuana, Mexico, where a civil war was in progress, and where she served as a volunteer nurse for the Red Cross while Dr Fareed served as surgeon to the wounded. [LDNW25; SBBH1p126; SoW Vol 2 No 13 p6-7; SoW Vol 2 No 14 p13-14; SoW Vol 2 No 16 p12-13]
  • Dr Fareed met President Taft at a luncheon of the Union League Club, and also at the dedication of the ground for the 1915 Panama Exposition. He had an opportunity for a few minutes to speak privately to the President when, as a Bahá'í, he congratulated him upon his efforts for Arbitration Treaties and promotion of Peace between nations. Thus the President was informed of the goal of the Bahá'í Movement, and its sympathy with all efforts far the Unity and Peace of the world. [SoW Vol 2 No 14 p13]
  • Some time before the end of 1911 Dr. Fareed returned to Egypt. See the same reference for a report from Ella Goodall Cooper on the progress of the teaching work in California. [SoW Vol 2 No 16 p12-13]
  • Some of Lua's talks were:
    • December 17th, 1911 at the California Club Hall in San Francisco. [LGHC358]
    • January 6th, 1912 at the Bellevue Hotel in San Francisco. [LGHC373]
    • January 16th, 1912 at the Bellevue Hotel in San Francisco. [LGHC375]
  • Lua Getsinger travelled to Chicago to meet Him and to attend the dedication of the land for the Temple. 'Abdu'l-Bahá asked her to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony by turning over a shovelful of earth. [LDNW26-27] iiiii
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Ameen Fareed (Amin Farid); California, USA; Lua Getsinger; Mexico; Red Cross; San Quentin State Prison; Tijuana, Mexico; Travel teaching; United States (USA)
    1912 25 Dec
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá paid a visit to Lord Lamington (Cochrane-Baillie) who was deeply touched by the message of peace and goodwill. [PG141] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Charles Cochrane-Baillie; London, England; United Kingdom
    1913 23 Jun
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk in Port Sa'íd, Egypt, in which He mentioned a certain cardinal that He had encountered while in the United States and who had made several remarks against Him. In the talk 'Abdu'l-Bahá described the "display" of the Cardinal who had come on behalf of the Pope to dedicate the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, Colorado, and compared it with the "display" of Christ on the cross.

    See Talk 23 June 1913 for a provisional translation of the talk by Adib Masumian. As mentioned in the footnotes the unnamed man was Cardinal John Murphy Farley of New York.

    `Abdu'l-Bahá, Talks at other places; Egypt; Port Said, Egypt
    1911 27 Aug
    191-
    'Abdu'l-Bahá and His party took a ferry to Vevey, a resort town on the other side of Lake Geneva (Lake Leman). Vevey was the location of the Dreyfus summer home and it was near here that Lady Blomfield and her daughters finalized the translation of Paris Talks [ABF33-44, DJT186, SoW vol 2 no 14]
  • He took a room at the Park Hôtel Mooser where He took some rest and also met Edith Sanderson and her mother. With the assembled friends He discussed immortality and divorce.
  • The party returned by ferry to Thonon-les-Bains, stopping at Évian-les-Bains. [DJT196-197]
  • In the afternoon He met with Lillian Frances Kappes and Elizabeth Harnill Stewart who had just arrived from America on their way to teach at the Tarbiyát School for girls in Iran. The school for boys had been in operation since 1897 and the school for girls was just being established in 1911 after the arrival of Dr Susan Moody. [ABF43, SoW vol 2 no 18, SoW vol 2 no 14] Perhaps it was at this time He delivered the talk that has been entitled, "The oneness of humanity and of religions". ['Abdu'l-Bahá Speaks]
  • - Bahá'í inspired schools; `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; Edith Sanderson; Elizabeth Stewart; Evian-les-Bains, France; France; Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; Lillian Kappes; Paris Talks (book); Switzerland; Tarbiyat School, Tihran; Thonon-les-Bains, France; Vevey, Switzerland
    1913 (prior to `Abdu'l-Bahá's departure fm Egypt)
    191-
    "Tamaddunu'l-Mulk (Mírzá 'Abdu'l-Husayn Khán Qalátí Shirází) caused mischief amongst the friends and perpetrated such disunity that the foundation of the divine Faith was nearly destroyed. On numerous occasions, he repented. And yet, after each contrition, he would cause further mischief. Eventually, I telegraphed that Tamaddun is expelled and association with him is not permissible." [Tablet Concerning Covenant-Breakers: Excerpt by Abdu'l-Bahá translated by Ahang Rabbani]
  • In this Tablet 'Abdu'l-Bahá warned against association with Covenant-breakers because its harm will injure the Cause of God and will enable them to penetrate the community and to completely uproot the Faith from within. Association with Covenant-breakers is the same as a person nurturing a snake in his shirt or giving a home to a scorpion in his sleeve.
  • See The Early Years of the British Bahá'í Community (1898-1911) p126-128.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Covenant-breaking; Egypt; Iran; Tamaddunul-Mulk; Tehran, Iran
    1919 (Late Winter until Early Autumn and beyond)
    191-
    "Red Summer" is the period from late winter through early autumn of 1919 during which white supremacist terrorism and racial riots took place in more than three dozen cities across the United States, as well as in one rural county in Arkansas.

    Some historians claim that the racial terror connected with "Red Summer" began as early as 1917 during the bloody massacre that occurred in East St. Louis, Illinois, a barbaric pogrom that would eventually set the stage for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst episodes of post-Civil War racial violence ever committed against Black Americans. The Tulsa Massacre left as many as 300 Black people dead and destroyed more than 35 square blocks of Greenwood, an all-Black community so wealthy, the philosopher Booker T. Washington called it "Negro Wall Street." [Red Summer: When Racists Mobs Ruled]

  • See Wikipedia for a partial list of locations where such events took place in 1919 alone.

    It was against this backdrop of racial tension and hatred that the Baha'i community promoted racial amity. [SYH125-126]

  • Race amity; Race unity; Racism; Red Summer; United States (USA)
    1918 23 Sep
    191-
    "During the early years of World War I, though no longer imprisoned, 'Abdu'l-Bahá faced repeated threats against His life by authorities who were antagonistic towards Him and the Bahá'ís. The Commander of the Ottoman fourth army corps had even threatened to crucify 'Abdu'l-Bahá if the Turkish army were ever to be displaced out of Haifa." Lady Blomfield in London had learned of these threats and through her contacts in Cabinet, the British Army was instructed to protect Him and His family. [BWNS69, BWNS1202]

    The British army took the city in the 1st Battle of Haifa: The battle was won due to a courageous uphill assault by the Jodhpur Lancers of the Indian Army who took the German and Turkish artillery and machine gun emplacements on top of Mount Carmel by surprise. This attack is believed to have been one of the last cavalry charge in modern military history. Each year, on this date, the Indian Army commemorates this victory as Haifa Day. [AY104; BBR335; DH148, Scroll In 68095]

  • For details of the battle see BBR335-6.
  • For letters from the British authorities stating that `Abdu'l-Bahá is safe see BBR336-7.
  • For a photos see The Indian Weekender 5 October, 2018 as well as Wikipedia.
  • For videos see India Today, The Battle of Haifa Part 1, The Battle of Haifa Part II.
  • See the story as recounted by Col (Dr) Divakaran Padma Kumar Pillay.
  • See as well Battle of Haifa: The Last Great Cavalry Campaign in History by Ajeet Singh Choudhary. This article provides a comprehensive historical account of the Jodhpur Lancers and Battle of Haifa.
  • See PG85-86, on the 23rd of August, 1919 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in conversation with Major-General Watson, referring to the success of the British army in taking Haifa stated, "God hath wished it to be so, it was His Divine aid and assistance that made it possible." and "It was God that helped you from every standpoint."
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Death threats to; Armies; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Battle of Haifa (1918); Germany; Haifa, Israel; History (general); Indian Army; Israel; Jodhpur Lancers; Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield; Mount Carmel; Turkey; War (general); World War I
    1913 1 Aug
    191-
    With his final year of high school over, Shoghi Effendi hastened from Beirut to Ramleh to join the Master. He, the Greatest Holy Leaf and the eldest daughter of `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived in Egypt. [PG9 AB401]
  • During this period Tammaddun'ul-Mulk (who had been in London during `Abdu'l-Bahá first visit) attempted to divide the Bahá'ís of Tehran and Dr Amínu'llah Farid's increasingly erratic behaviour brought Him much suffering and sorrow. [AB402]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Alexandria, Egypt; Ameen Fareed (Amin Farid); Bahiyyih Khanum (Greatest Holy Leaf); Covenant-breaking; Egypt; Iran; Ramleh, Egypt; Syrian Protestant College, Lebanon; Tammaddunul-Mulk; Tehran, Iran
    1919 Nov
    191-
    William Harry Randall, an American, asked `Abdu'l-Bahá if he might contribute to the building of the Western Pilgrim House. [DH179]
  • Plans were drawn up and work began but the funds available were insufficient to continue the work until 1923, when money was contributed by Amelia Collins and seven others. [BBD178; DH180; GPB307]
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); Amelia Collins; Haifa, Israel; Pilgrim House, Western (Haifa); Pilgrim Houses; William Harry Randall
    1913 10 Apr
    191-
    While walking `Abdu'l-Bahá crossed the Chain Bridge and attracted a crowd of curious onlookers who had seen His picture in the newspaper. [MRHK363]
  • He received visitors at His hotel. Among them are Dr Agnes Goosen, the Rector of the University of Budapest, Dr Alexander Giesswein, a member of Parliament and Sirdar Omrah Singh of Punjab. Professor Julius Germanus, a young Orientalist from the Eastern Academy, brings a group of Turkish language students. [MRHK364]
  • He visited the homes of several families.
  • In the evening He spoke to 50 people at the Theosophical Meeting, praising the organization and its goals. Dr Germanus interpretes the talk into German.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Budapest, Hungary; Hungary
    1912 22 Sep
    191-
    While passing through Lincoln, Nebraska 'Abdu'l-Bahá's intention was to return the visit of William and Mary Bryan who had met Him in Akka in 1906. Upon telephoning they learned that Mr Bryan was not at home but Mrs Bryan invited Him to their home for tea. (Mr Bryan was on a campaign tour for the future president, Woodrow Wilson. Bryan later become his Secretary of State.) [MD281; 239D152; ABW74; SoG221] iiiii `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Lincoln, NE; Mary Elizabeth Baird; Nebraska, USA; William Jennings Bryan
    1911 9 Aug
    191-
    When 'Abdu'l-Bahá was about to depart on his first voyage to the West, He wrote to Albert Smiley, host of the annual Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration. On the 22nd of August, 1911 while in Thonon-les-Bains, France, He wrote to H.C. Phillips, secretary of the Mohonk arbitration institution. These letters were unique because He usually didn't initiate correspondence. He was, undoubtedly, making arrangements to speak at their annual conference as Ali Kuli Khan had recently done.
    • The letter. [SoW Vol 2 No 15 December 12, 1911 p3]
    • While crossing the Atlantic on the S.S. Cedric He told a newspaperman, "I am going to America at the invitation of the Peace Congresses of that place, as the fundamental principles of our Cause are universal peace, the oneness of the world of humanity and the equality of the rights of men..." When the ship docked in New York and the plank was lowered, the press clambered aboard to interview him and he told them, "Our object is... the unity of mankind... I have come to America to see the advocates of universal peace..." [Who Will Bell the Cat: The Story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Visit to Lake Mohonk by Janet Ruhe-Schoen]
    • These meetings at Lake Mohonk were instrumental in the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. [Wikipedia]
    `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Albert Smiley; `Alí Kulí Khán; Egypt; France; H. C. Phillips; Lake Mohonk, NY; Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration; Thonon-les-Bains, France
    1910 Nov
    191-
    Wellesley Tudor Pole met 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Alexandria. An interview with him appeared in Christian Commonwealth (1910 28 Dec), "A Wonderful Movement in The East" (reproduced in SoW Vol 1 Issue 18 p1-4. [SYH6] `Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt; Alexandria, Egypt; Egypt; Wellesley Tudor Pole
    1911 11 May
    191-
    W. Morgan Shuster was an American chosen by the Persian Chargé d'Affaires at Washington, Mirza Ali Kuli Khan, to serve as Treasurer-General of Persia for a period of three years. His mandate was to organize and conduct the collection and disbursements of the revenues. Four American assistants were likewise engaged to serve under the Treasurer-General. Since the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907 the country was under the influence of the Russians in the north and the British in the south. The purpose in engaging Shuster was to put the country's financial affairs in order so that they might attract investment from other nations.
  • After an encounter with the Russian Consul-General he was forced to leave on the 14th of January, 1912. [AY79-82]
  • He subsequently wrote a book called The Strangling of Persia.
  • `Alí Kulí Khán; Colonialism and imperialism; History (general); Iran; Iran, History (general); United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1912 10 Sep
    191-
    Upon arrival in Buffalo, NY,Àbdu'l-Bahá was greeted by journalists. Their articles in the newspapers generated interest and a great number of people came out to see Him. An article from the Buffalo Courier on 11 September 1912 reported on ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s talk the previous night, in which He predicted the coming war. “The continent of Europe is one vast arsenal, which only requires one spark at its foundations and the whole of Europe will become a wasted wilderness,” the newspaper quoted ‘Abdu’l-Baha as saying. [Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha's Call for Unity, a Century after World War I Bahá'í World News Service 2018-11-26]

    He and his companions took the trolley to see Niagara Falls and on His arrival at His hotel back in Buffalo He was greated by awaiting journalists,

    The evening talk was about unity and amity among the peoples of the East and the West and also about the degrees of love which bring the whole creation into existence. [MD252-254]

    - Newspapers and news media (press); `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; Buffalo, NY
    1912 4 Feb
    191-
    Two Bahá'ís were killed in Máhfurúzak, Mázandarán. [BW18:387] * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; - Persecution, Deaths; Iran; Mahfurúzak, Iran; Mazandaran, Iran
    1914 1 Nov
    191-
    Turkey entered the war on the side of the Central Powers.
  • Palestine was blockaded and Haifa was bombarded. [GPB304]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá sent the Bahá'ís to the Druze village of Abú-Sinán for asylum. [AB411; DH124; GPB304, BWNS1297]
  • For `Abdu'l-Bahá in wartime see CH188–228.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá had grown and stored corn in the years leading up to the war and was now able to feed not only local people but the British army. [AB415, 418; CH210; GPB304, 306]
  • Properties in the villages of Asfíyá and Dálíyá near Haifa were purchased by `Abdu'l-Bahá, and, at the request of Bahá'u'lláh, bestowed upon Díyá'u'lláh and Bahí'u'lláh. Land was also acquired in the villages of Samirih, Nughayb and 'Adasíyyih situated near the Jordan river. 'Adasíyyah was the village occupied by Bahá'ís of Zoroastrian heritage that produced corn for the Master's household. The village of Nughayb is where the relatives of the Holy Family lived. [CH209-210]
    • See the book "Adasiyyih: The Story of 'Abdu’l-Baha's Model Farming Community" by Paul Hanley (2024).
    • See also 'Adasiyyah: A Study in Agriculture and Rural Development by Iraj Poostchi. This village was purchased by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 1901. He paid 400 Turkish gold lira for 920 hectares and then gifted 1/24th of the total area to the family from whom He had made the purchase.
    • Under the guidance of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi this village became a model of agriculture and Bahá'í life. The Bahá'ís lost ownership after 1962 when Jordan implemented land reforms.
    • 'Adasiyyah is mentioned in the film Exemplar (17:40-18:50).
  • See as well `Abdu'l-Baha in Abu-Sinan: September 1914 by Ahang Rabbani.
  • See Senn McGlinn's Abdu'l-Baha's British knighthood for more background.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá, Basic timeline; * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Bahaullah (chronology); - Basic timeline, Expanded; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Knighthood (KBE); Abu-Sinan, Israel; Adasiyyih, Palestine; Asfiya, Palestine; Charity and relief work; Daliya, Palestine; Druze; Exemplar (film); Haifa, Israel; History (general); Israel; Jordan; Mírzá Ḍíyá’u’lláh; Nughayb, Palestine; Palestine; Samirih, Palestine; Social and economic development; United Kingdom; War (general); World War I
    1912 30 Sep
    191-
    Thornton Chase, the first American Bahá'í, Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá, passed away in California before 'Abdu'l-Bahá'í and His retinue arrive. He was buried at Inglewood. He had been named Thábit (Steadfast) by the Master. [BBD71; BFA2:XVII]
  • See SoW Vol 3 No 12 16 October, 1912 p1-7 for a tribute to him upon his passing.
  • For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • See as well Bahá'í Encyclopedia.
  • See "Disciples of 'Abdu'l-Bahá" . [BW3p84–85; BW4p118–119]
  • See the article Chase, Thornton: The First Bahá'í from the Western Hemisphere by Richard Francis.
  • For a biography see Thornton Chase: First American Bahá'í by Robert H Stockman, Bahá'í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, 2002.
  • During the early years of the Faith in North America the Bahá'ís were unclear about the station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. There were those who thought Him an ordinary man who had applied the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh flawlessly through His effort. Others believed Him to be the return of Christ. See ABF244-246 for his letter to Wellesly Tudor-Pole on the station of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • And a draft of a portion of the Stockman book, Love's Odyssey: The Life of Thornton Chase.
  • Upon hearing of his passing 'Abdu'l-Bahá is reported to have said, "This revered personage was the first Bahá'í in America. He served the Cause faithfully and his services will ever be remembered throughout ages and cycles." [SoW Vol 4 No 11 p.189]
  • Photos of the grave of Thornton Chase in Inglewood Park Cemetery.
  • Directions to his grave. Find a grave.
  • His publications:
    • A number of pamphlets, See Bibliography of English-Language Works on the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths, 1844–1985 by William Collins, George Ronald, Oxford, 1990 page 66-67.
    • In Galilee and In Spirit and In Truth, first published in 1908. This was a record of his pilgrimage. [Collins7.634]
    • The Bahai Revelation, first published in 1909. This book was an introduction to the Faith intended for a Christian audience. [BEL7.629]
  • See the trailer for a film entitled Steadfast-The Thornton Chase Story by Mithaq Kazimi and produced by Sam Baldoni.
  • See the Thornton Chase Website created by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Inglewood, California and The Thornton Chase Committee to honour the legacy of Thornton Chase.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Disciples of `Abdu'l-Bahá; - In Memoriam; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; California, USA; Cemeteries and graves; Los Angeles, CA; Thornton Chase; United States (USA)
    1912 (In the year)
    191-
    There were about two dozen Bahá'ís in Canada by this year. [BFA2:158] Canada; Statistics
    1917 6 Apr
    191-
    The United States entered World War I.
  • See CF36 for Shoghi Effendi's opinion of its participation in the war.
  • * Shoghi Effendi (chronology); - Europe; History (general); United States (USA); War (general); World War I
    1916 (in the year)
    191-
    The United States census showed 2,884 Bahá'ís. [BBRSM:105; SBBH1:117] Statistics; United States (USA)
    1912 13 Sep
    191-
    The True home was inundated with visitors and among them, a group of black believers. 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave a talk in the evening. The three large rooms on the ground floor were filled to capacity and He walked from room to room as He spoke. [MD260-262] `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Chicago, IL; Corinne True
    1919 28 Jun
    191-
    The Treaty of Versailles was concluded. The United States never signed the Treaty of Versailles, never joined the League of Nations which President Wilson's foes derisively referred to as 'Wilson's League'. The USA made separate treaties with Germany and the other Central Powers. Wilson died on the 3rd of February, 1924. [AY160-169; US Office of the Historian]

    Shoghi Effendi's tribute is as follows:

    "To ... President ... Woodrow Wilson, must be ascribed the unique honour, among the statesmen of any nation, whether of the East or of the West, of having voiced sentiments so akin to the principles animating the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, and of having more than any other world leader, contributed to the creation of the League of Nations—achievements which the pen of the Centre of God's Covenant acclaimed as signalizing the dawn of the Most Great Peace, whose sun, according to that same pen, must needs arise as the direct consequence of the enforcement of the laws of the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh." [CoF36]

    France; History (general); League of Nations; Most Great Peace; Peace; Peace treaties; Treaty of Versailles; Versailles, France; War (general); Woodrow Wilson; World War I; World peace
    1911 29 Oct
    191-
    The title for 'Abdu'l-Bahá's morning talk was Worldly riches do not help Spirit. [ABF133, SoW vol 2 no 16 p4-5]
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá was invited to dinner at 29, rue Brézin, the home of Madeleine Jenny Sacy, the widow of French Bahá'í Gabriel Sacy (1858-1903). He had known Sacy in Egypt where he died unexpectedly. Sacy had been a Syrian Christian who, upon becoming a Bahá'í had a remarkable faculty for interpreting the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments. Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine by Kamran Ekbal. p7 says that he carried messages from 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Leo Tolstoy in 1901.
  • That same day He spoke at the home of the sister of Hippolyte Dreyfus, Yvonne and Paul Mayer May at 21, boulevard Beauséjour. [ABF135]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; France; Gabriel Sacy; Paris, France
    1912 15 Apr
    191-
    The Titanic was the largest steamship ever built. She was 882 feet long, 96 feet wide, displacing 45,000 tons. Her luxurious appointments included a theatre seating 1,200, a church somewhat smaller, a ballroom accommodating 500 couples, beautiful salons, palm courts, gymnasium, bowling alley, tennis court and a swimming pool. She could accommodate nearly 4,000 passengers and carried a crew of 860. She set forth on her first and fatal voyage from Southampton, England, April 10, 1912, the pride of her builders and an admiring world. At 11:40 p. m., Sunday, April 14, she grazed a mammoth iceberg, tore open her hull, and in two and one-half hours sank in 2,000 fathoms, taking over 1,500 souls to a watery grave.—The Editors. [SoW Vol 4 No 12 16 Oct 1913 p210] Titanic
    1916 16 May
    191-
    The Sykes–Picot Agreement, officially known as the Asia Minor Agreement, was a secret 1916 agreement between the United Kingdom and France, to which the Russian Empire assented. The agreement allocated to Britain control of areas roughly comprising the coastal strip between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan, Jordan, southern Iraq, and an additional small area that included the ports of Haifa and Acre, to allow access to the Mediterranean. France got control of southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Russia was to get Istanbul, the Turkish Straits and Armenia. The controlling powers were left free to determine state boundaries within their areas. Further negotiation was expected to determine international administration in the "brown area" (an area including Jerusalem, similar to and smaller than Mandate Palestine), the form of which was to be decided upon after consultation with Russia, and subsequently in consultation with the other Allies, and the representatives of Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca. [Wikipedia] - Middle East; Akka, Israel; Haifa, Israel; History (general); Israel; Palestine; Sykes-Picot Agreement (Asia Minor Agreement)
    1912 8 Oct
    191-
    The start of the the First Balkan War when Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia constituting the Balkan League and having large parts of their ethnic populations under Ottoman sovereignty, attacked the Ottoman Empire, terminating its five centuries of rule in the Balkans. The seven-month campaign ended in the Treaty of London (30 May 1913) brokered and mediated by the great powers of Europe, including the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. They sought to prevent further conflicts in the Balkans and to maintain stability in the region.

    The main provisions included the following:

  • Serbia expanded its territory, gaining control of Kosovo, parts of Macedonia, and northern Albania.
  • Greece acquired southern Epirus, southern Macedonia, Crete, and the northern Aegean islands.
  • Bulgaria received Thrace up to the outskirts of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) and parts of Macedonia.
  • Montenegro also saw territorial gains in northern Albania and Kosovo.
  • Albania was created as an independent state, with the great powers of Europe guaranteeing its sovereignty.
  • The division of Macedonia: The treaty stipulated that the majority of Macedonia would be under the sovereignty of Serbia and Greece, with Bulgaria gaining a smaller portion. This division sowed the seeds of future conflicts and territorial disputes in the region.
  • The deportation of people according to their "ethnical" backgrounds was stipulated in this treaty for the first time in history and was soon to lead to unprecedented atrocities and new forms of racism and racial prejudice committed later in Europe, especially by the Nazis. Unprecedented atrocities were committed by all parties involved and hundreds of thousands of Muslims, mostly Greeks, Bulgarians and Slavs now designated as "Turks", were deported eventually to the Asiatic parts of Turkey, putting an end to Ottoman rule in Southeastern Europe. [Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine by Kamran Ekbal p16]

    See also a talk at the Japanese Independent Church. [PUP343-348]

  • Balkans; Colonialism and imperialism; Ethnic divisions; History (general); London, England; United Kingdom
    1911 29 Sep
    191-
    The start of the Italo-Turkish war which lasted until the 18th of October 1912 when the Ottoman Empire signed a treaty in Ouchy in Lausanne called the First Treaty of Lausanne, (often also called Treaty of Ouchy to distinguish it from the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne), (the Second Treaty of Lausanne). Italy's victory led to the annexation of the Ottoman Tripolitania Vilayet, including sub-provinces like Fezzan, Cyrenaica, and Tripoli itself. These regions later became Italian colonies known as Italian Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, which eventually merged into Italian Libya. Italy established control over Libya and would govern the region until the end of World War II.

    After defeating the Ottoman army they confiscated on large scale the lands of the Arab peasants on which Italian settlements were established and large numbers of Italian settlers were brought in for the cultivation of cash products. The war cost Italy 1.3 billion lire, nearly a billion more than Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti had estimated before the war. This ruined ten years of fiscal prudence.

    This war is notable for the introduction of new military technologies including the use of the airplane for reconnaissance and bombing. It also included the first instance of an airplane being shot down by ground fire.

    The Italians also used a wireless telegraph network established with the help of the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi.

    This war is considered by historians as a precursor of the First World War. Members of the Balkan League, seeing how easily Italy defeated the Ottomans and motivated by incipient Balkan nationalism, attacked the Ottoman Empire in October 1912, starting the First Balkan War a few days before the end of the Italo-Turkish War. [Wikipedia]

    The Battle of Benghazi was a preliminary to the fascist invasion of Ethiopia and Italy's ambitions to establish its own colonial empire. [Wikipedia]

    Colonialism and imperialism; History (general); Italy; Libya; Turkey
    1913 23 Jan
    191-
    The start of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's third visit to France. It lasted 2 months and 9 days.
  • After His morning talk He visited and had lunch with Natalie Clifford Barney, the sister of Laura Dreyfus Barney and the daughter of Alice Pike Barney, probably at her salon at 20, rue Jacob.
  • On this day, or perhaps the next, He met the famous French philosopher and writer, Henri Bergson. (Nobel prize for literature 1928). He was a professor at the College de France. 'Abdu'l-Bahá impressed him with His simple proof for the existence of God. [ABF302-304, Bahá'íes de France]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; France; Henri Bergson; Natalie Clifford Barney; Paris, France
    1911 4 Oct
    191-
    The start of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's third stay in France. It lasted 2 month and 9 days.
  • It is quite probable that 'Abdu'l-Bahá stayed with Hippolyte and Laura Dreyfus-Barney at 15, rue Greuze for a couple of nights before moving to the apartment at 4, avenue de Camoēns which had been prepared for Him by them. The apartment was in a building that was relatively new having been built in 1910. It was one block away from the Trocadéro Gardens and the Eiffel Tower stood just across the River Seine. It had a drawing room that could easily accommodate 75-100 people and came with a French maid who performed the domestic functions and who answered the bell. The apartment was purchase by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of France in 1996. [ABF62, 65, 68-71, 85 Sur les pas de 'Abdu'l-Bahá à Paris by Paul Hakim, SoW Vol 2 No 14 p3-4]
  • Some members of His entourage stayed at the Grand Hötel de Passy (now Hötel Passy-Eiffel) some ten minutes walk away. [ABF84]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; Avenue de Camoens, Paris; France; Paris, France
    1913 16 Jun
    191-
    The Second Balkan War broke out on 16 June 1913 when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with the territorial gains it had made in the Treaty of London (1913), attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece. Those armies repulsed the Bulgarian offensive and then attacked, penetrating into Bulgaria. Romania and the Ottomans used the opportunity to intervene against Bulgaria to make territorial gains. In the resulting Treaty of Constantinople (29 September 1913) with a redrawing of borders on ethnical lines they recovered Adrianople. [Colonialism, Nationalism and Jewish Immigration to Palestine by Kamran Ekbal p6] Bulgaria; Edirne, Turkey; Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Romania; Serbia; Turkey
    1910 25 - 26 Apr
    191-
    The Second Annual Convention of the Bahá'í Temple Unity was held in Corinthian Hall, 17th Floor of the Masonic Temple at State and Randolph Streets.
  • Honoré Jaxon presented a report on his negotiations for the purchase of land for the Temple site. [BN Vol 1 Issue 4 17 May 1910 pg 19]
    • See SoW Vol 3 No 4 p5 for Dedication of the Mashrak-el-Azkar Site (Illustrated)—By Honoré J. Jaxon.
  • See A Bit of Extraneous Matter: The 1910 Bahai Temple Unity Convention and the Downfall of Henry Clayton Thompson by Jackson Armstrong_Ingram where a member tries to make a claim for leadership. [SBBR14p129]
  • See the official report by Joseph Hannen in SoW Vol 2 No 4 p3.
  • Chicago, IL; Conventions, National; Honoré Jaxon; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette
    1918 (After the National Convention)
    191-
    The publication of the second edition of Compilation of the Holy Utterances of Bahaʼollah and Abdul Baha, Concerning the Most Great Peace, War and the Duty of the Bahais toward their Government, authorized the the Tenth Annual Convention of the Bahais of America held in Chicago.
  • The original.
  • The pdf.
  • Chicago, IL; Compilation of the Holy Utterances of Bahaollah and `Abdu'l-Bahá; United States (USA)
    c. 1917
    191-
    The publication of the booklet entitled Some Vital Bahai Principles by Charles Mason Remey. * Publications; Charles Mason Remey; East Lansing, MI
    1918 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of the 2nd edition of Some Answered Questions by the Bahai Publishing Society in Chicago.

    The book was in high demand and the Society had sold all its copies so they asked Laura Barney for permission for a second publishing. She took the opportunity to make some corrections and added "one lesson". She asked that the copyright of the book be put in her name in the United States. [LB174-175]

    Chicago, IL; Laura Clifford Barney; Some Answered Questions (book)
    1912 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of Universal Principles of the Bahai Movement, Social, Economic, Governmental by The Persian-American Bulletin.
  • The original.
  • The pdf.
  • * Introductory; Persian-American Bulletin; United States (USA); Washington, DC, USA
    1914 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of The River of Life: A Selection from the teachings of Baha Allah and Abdul Baha as translated by Johanna Dawud published in London by Cope & Fenwick. [Collins4-249 p27] London, England; United Kingdom; Yuhanna Dawud
    1911 (In the Year)
    191-
    The publication of The Mountain of God by E. S. (Ethel Stefana) Stevens (later Mrs E M Drower, Lady Drower) in London by Mills and Boon. The romantic novel is noteworthy for the author's pen portrait of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and it records impressions of the Bahá'í community as well as life in 'Akká and Haifa in 1911.
  • See Symbols of Individuation in E. S. Stevens's The Mountain of God by Cal E. Rollins. PDF.
  • See World Order 4:3 (Spring 1970), pages 28-52 together with World Order 4:4 (Summer1970), pages 33-50 for excerpts from the book.
  • Photo of the cover.
  • She also published two articles about the Faith, Abbas Effendi: His Personality, Work, and Followers in The Fortnightly Review, New series vol 95, no 534, 1 June 1911, pp. 1067–1084 and The Light in the Lantern in Everybody's Magazine, vol 24, no 6, Dec 1911, pp. 755– 786.
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pen portraits; E. S. Stevens; Haifa, Israel; Mount Carmel
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of Questions and Answers in the East. It was a document comprising exclusively of answers Bahá'u'lláh revealed in response to questions about the laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Questions were submitted in writing and answers were likewise revealed in writing. It is by nature of small size regarded as an appendix to the Most Holy Book. Its compiler was Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín, one of the erudite, devoted and trusted followers of Bahá'u'lláh. He was a mujtahid (specialized in Islamic jurisprudence) before embracing the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths. Bahá'u'lláh authorized him not only to ask questions about the laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, but also to compile Risálih-i-Su'ál va Javáb (Questions and Answers).
    The text of Questions and Answers, though compiled during Bahá'u'lláh's ministry, remained unpublished until 1910. Its English translation was published together with the authorized English translation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in 1992-3. The reason for the delay in the publication of Questions and Answers was the necessity for Bahá'u'lláh's Book of Laws to be translated and annotated under the aegis of the Universal House of Justice. Without the Book, the appendix would have had no source of reference. [Lights of Irfán vol. 18 p430-432]
  • See Chronology 1993
  • * Bahá'u'lláh, Writings of; * Publications; Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Su'al va Javab (Questions and Answers, Kitáb-i-Aqdas); Zaynu'l-Muqarrabín (Mullá Zaynul-ʻÁbidín)
    1914 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of Kitáb-i Badáyi'u'l-Áthár written by Mírza Mahmúd-i Zarqání, by Elegant Photo-Litho Press in Bombay. The English translation, Mahmúd's Diary, was published in 1998 by George Ronald Publisher. [APD151]

    "Mírzá Mahmúd was a careful and faithful chronicler and engaged in assembling and publishing his work with the permission of the beloved Master . . ." (The Universal House of Justice - a letter dated April 30, 1984 addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States).

    * Publications; * Publishing; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Second Western tour; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; India; Mahmuds Diary; Mírzá Mahmud-i-Zarqani; Mumbai, India
    1918 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of Excerpts from Mysterious Forces of Civilization, Written by an Eminent Bahai Philosopher in 1975: Excerpts from A Traveler's Narrative Written to Illustrate the Episode of the Bab. No publication information. [Collins3-43 p10]
  • A leather bound republication has been made of the 1918 edition. [Amazon.ca]
  • The text of this work as well as the translation done by Marzieh Gail and and the original Persian text have been laid out in one document by Bruce Barick and Nasrin Khademi. A pdf of this document has also been made available on Bahá'í-library.com.
  • Bruce Barick; Illinois, USA; Nasrin Khademi; Wilmette, IL; Yuhanna Dawud
    1912 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of The Brilliant Proof by Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl Gulpáygání in Chicago by the Bahai News Service, 1912. The first edition notes state that it was written December 28, 1911, in Syria, "by the pen of Mirza Abul Fazl Gulpaygan."
  • 239D93 says this book was written by Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl in answer to a London minister's criticism of the Cause.
  • The publication of this book marked the end of an early era of Bahá'í teaching in the West. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá continued his journeys in the United States and Canada, He delivered hundreds of public talks and private addresses which were tailored to Western audiences. The fresh outpouring of teachings which resulted from these encounters produced a new Bahá'í literature of the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the West. Examples include the following: The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by `Abdu'l-Bahá During His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912, compiled by Howard MacNutt, (Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1922-25); Paris Talks: Addresses Given by `Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1912); 'Abdu'l-Bahá in London.
  • * Publications; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Travels of; Brilliant Proof (book); Chicago, IL; Criticism and apologetics; Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl Gulpáygání; Proofs; United States (USA)
    1916 May
    191-
    The publication of Tablets of Abdul-Baha abbas Volume III by the Bahai Publishing Society of Chicago. Chicago, IL; Illinois, USA; Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá (3 volumes)
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of Fifty-Three Years in Syria by Reverend H. H. Jessup. (Apologies: this link does not have the same text as found on SBBR1p78) [Collins10.818]
  • This same Reverend Jessup who delivered the address to the World Parliament of Religions in 1894 in Chicago seemed to have revised his opinion about the Faith. Perhaps this was due to the dis-information being spread by the Covenant-breakers after the passing of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • He also published Babism and the Babites in "The Missionary Review of the World", Princeton, NJ Oct 1902 p771-775 and The Babites in "The Outlook", London, 22 June 1901 p451-456. [Collins11.574, 11.575]
  • See also WOB83 for other missionaries who wrote polemics against the Bahá'í Faith.
  • Christian missionaries; Criticism and apologetics; Henry Jessup; Syria; United States (USA)
    1914 Jan
    191-
    The publication of A Brief History of Beha'u'llah: the Founder of Behai Religion by M J Gazvini. [Collins7.1530] Akka, Israel; Mírzá Muhammad Javád Gazvini
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of The Splendor of God Being Extracts from the Sacred Writings of the Bahais with introduction by Eric Hammond. Published by E P Dutton and Company in New York.
  • For biographical information on Eric Hammond see The Early Years of the British Bahá'í Community (1898-1911) p106-108.
  • * Publications; Eric Hammond; New York, USA; New York, USA; Splendor of God (book)
    1919 Feb
    191-
    The publication of Tablets of Abdul-Baha abbas Volume II Second edition. (The first edition was published in May 1915). It was published by the Bahai Publishing Society in Chicago. Chicago, IL; Illinois, USA; Tablets of `Abdu'l-Bahá (3 volumes)
    1919 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of The New Day; The Bahai Revelation by Charles Mason Remey. The book was a brief statement of the history and the teachings of the Faith. * Publications; Charles Mason Remey; East Lansing, MI; Michigan, USA; United States (USA)
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of The Mysterious Forces of Civilisation; Written in Persian by an eminent Bahai Philosopher translated y Johanna Dawud in London by Cope & Fenwick and in Chicago by the Bahá'í Publishing Society in 1910 and 1918. [BEL 3-79 p12] London, England; Yuhanna Dawud
    1915 Sep
    191-
    The publication of The Persian Rival to Jesus, And His American Disciples by Robert P. Richardson. This 24-page "history" concludes by saying, "And Bahaism is simply a sectarian religion; it is a reversion to modes of thought that the ideals of civilization have long ago outgrown."
  • See also WOB83 for other missionaries who wrote polemics against the Bahá'í Faith.
  • Criticism and apologetics; Opposition; Robert P. Richardson
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of God's Heroes: A Drama in Five Acts by Laura Clifford Barney, (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1910). The play, based on the life of the Báb, centred on Táhirih. * Báb, The (chronology); - Drama; - Plays; Laura Clifford Barney; London, England; Ṭáhirih Qurratu'l-'Ayn
    1911 - 1914
    191-
    The publication of Le Beyan Persan in Paris by A. L. M. Nicolas. It was a French translation of the Persian Bayán and was published in four volumes. [BBR39] * Báb, Writings of; * Publications; * Translation; A. L. M. Nicolas; Bayan-i-Farsi (Persian Bayan); France; Paris, France
    1917 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of O Christians! Why do Ye Believe Not on Christ? by Ibrahim George Kheiralla.
  • In the "Forward" of the book the author explains that "The purpose of this is to prove to the whole world the Infallibility of Beha 'U'llah, and that the attacks and accusations of S B Wilson, DD, and those of H H Hessup, DD, and Robert P Richarson, against Him and His teachings are not true."
  • The "Dedicatory" reads: "To His Excellency Mohammed Ali Effendi, Gusn Akbar (the Mightiest Branch), who was chosen after Abbas Effendi as the Chief Head of the Behai movement in the last Will of Beha 'U'llah entitled the "Book of My Covenant," this work is dedicated by the author."
  • 1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The publication of The Oriental Rose, or, The teachings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá which trace the chart of "The Shining Pathway" by Mary Hanford Finney Ford. [Collins7.983]
  • See page 158-159 for her pen portrait of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • See SoW Vol 2 No 15 November 23, 1911 p3 for her description of 'Abdu'-Bahá's time in Paris during the two weeks she was there.
  • * `Abdu'l-Bahá (chronology); * Introductory; * Publications; `Abdu'l-Bahá, Pen portraits; Mary Hanford Ford; New York, USA; Pen portraits; Portraits; United States (USA)
    1915 In 1915 and 1916
    191-
    The publication of Bahaism and Its Claims: A Study of the Religion Promulgated by Baha Ullah and Abdul Baha by Samuel Graham Wilson. It has been described as a "hostile and uninformed Christian missionary's overview of the Bahá'í Faith".
  • See a reference to Wilson SBBH5p234-235.
  • Other publications by Wilson include Bahaism: An Anti-Christian System also published in 1915 and Mahdist Movements. It was published in 1916 and is "{an} unsympathetic Christian missionary's early history of the Faith".
  • See also WOB83 for other missionaries who wrote polemics against the Bahá'í Faith.
  • Bahá'ísm and Its Claims (book); Opposition; Samuel Graham Wilson
    1919 13 Apr
    191-
    The passing of Phoebe Apperson Hearst (b. 3 December, 1842) in her home in Pleasanton, California during the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. She was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, California. [AY49, Find a grave, Bahá'í Chronicles]
  • See AY55-> for a brief history of her life and her contribution to the progress of the Faith. She had learned of the Faith through Lua Getsinger and members of her group in the early days of the Faith in California.
  • 'Abdu'l-Bahá called her 'the servant of Bahá, the "Mother of the Faithful"'. He writes that she had 'sincerely turned unto her Master... completely faced toward the Kingdom of God ... [she] shall surely have a firm and steady footing in the Cause of God, her face shall shine forth from the Horizon of Loftiness, her fame shall be spread in the Kingdom of God, and [she] shall have a ringing voice ... and the light of her glorious deeds shall beam forth during cycles and ages.' [AY54-55; 106-107]
  • See Some Early Bahá'ís of the West pp13-19.
  • See Two Letters of Mrs Phoebe A Hearst in BW7p800-802.
  • - Biography; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; California, USA; Cemeteries and graves; Colma, CA; Lua Getsinger; Names and titles; Phoebe Hearst; Pleasanton, CA; United States (USA)
    1919 13 Aug
    191-
    The passing of Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan Táliqání, Hand of the Cause of God, entitled Adíbu'l-'Ulamá, know as Adíb (Educator) in Tihrán at the Shah's College established by Násirii'd-Dín Sháh. He was born in Talaqán in 1848 and became a Bahá'í around 1889. [BBD98, SUR29]
  • Bahá'u'lláh appointed him a Hand of the Cause of God. [SDH138-140]
  • He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • He was one of the founders of the Tarbíyat Schools in Tihrán. [LoF17-18]
  • For a brief history of his life see EB272-3.
  • EB273 says he died on 2 September 1919.
  • See as well Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; - In Memoriam; Adib (Hájí Mírzá Ḥasan-i-Adíbu'l-`Ulamá Talaqaní); Hands appointed by Bahá'u'lláh; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Iran; Tálaqán, Iran; Tarbiyat School, Tihran; Tehran, Iran
    1910 4 Mar
    191-
    The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Hájí Mullá 'Alí-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí, (Hájí Akhund). He was born in Shahmírzád around 1842/3. [Bahaipedia]
  • Bahá'u'lláh had entrusted him with the sacred task of moving and hiding the remains of the Báb. In Tehran he transferred the remains to Hand of the Cause Amínu'l-Bayán who moved them through innumerable dangers to a safe hiding place in the Mosque of the Imámzádih Zayd in Tehran, where they lay concealed until the time when, at the behest of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, they were transferred to the Holy Land to be laid in their permanent resting place on the slopes of Mount Carmel. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985]
  • He was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Bahá'u'lláh. [LoF3-8]
  • He was appointed as one of the Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh.
  • Hand of the Cause of God `Alí-Akhar-i-Shahmírzádí (Hájí Ákhúnd) passed away in Tihrán. [BBD14; EB266]
  • See also Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Hájí Ákhúnd (Mullá `Alí-Akbar-i-Shahmírzádí); Hands appointed by Bahá'u'lláh; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Iran; Shahmirzad, Iran; Tehran, Iran
    1917 (in the year)
    191-
    The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-Taqíy-i-Abharí (Ibn-i-Abhar). He was born in 1853/4 in Abhar.
  • For four years he suffered in Síyáh-Chál wearing the very same chains as Bahá'u'lláh had worn in 1852.
  • On being informed that the friends in Tihrán had arranged to observe the commandment of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Bahá'u'lláh revealed, in one of His Tablets to Ibn-i-Asdaq (later named as a Hand of the Cause), the following well known Words:
      Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified. -Bahá'u'lláh
    [ROB4:316; Some Bahai Sacred Spaces for Community, Slide presentation by the UK Community, Slide #74]
  • His services during the time of the Master included teaching journeys through Persia, the Caucasus and India. He also made some eleven journeys to the Holy Land with the permission of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
  • A special service rendered by Ibn-i-Abhar was the promotion of the education of women. He and his wife played an important part in the advancement of women in Persian society.
  • In 1886 Bahá'u'lláh appointed him a Hand of the Cause. He died in 1917. [LoF13-16, BBD114, EB268; Bahaipedia]
  • Shoghi Effendi designated him as an Apostle of Bahá'u'lláh. [LoF12]
  • Also see Bahá'í Chronicles.
  • - Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh; - Biography; - Births and deaths; - Hands of the Cause; - In Memoriam; Abhar, Iran; Blessed Is the Spot (text); Caucasus; Chains; Hands appointed by Bahá'u'lláh; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Ibn-i-Abhar (Ḥájí Mírzá Muḥammad-Taqí); India; Iran; Síyáh-Chál (Black Pit, Tehran); Tehran, Iran; Women
    1910 18 - 29 May
    191-
    The Paris International Air Navigation Conference of 1910, also known as the Conférence internationale de navigation aérienne, was the first diplomatic conference to consider formulating international aviation law. It was proposed by the French government who were concerned about aircraft from foreign nations flying over their territory and was attended by representatives from 19 European nations. The conference went into recess in June 1910 but did not reconvene due to differences of opinion and then later the outbreak of the First World War. Hence, no agreement was signed. Its deliberations, however, influenced the development of international aviation law.

    For obvious reasons, the treatment of aviation matters was a subject at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. The conference was the first political effort to develop the doctrines of international law relating to aerial navigation. Delegates disagreed about the right of foreign aircraft to fly over national territory. It was resolved to create an Aeronautical Commission charged to prepare a convention on international aerial navigation. The result was the creation of the International Commission for Air Navigation under the authority of the League of Nations. This Paris Convention was the first successful attempt at common regulation of international air navigation and laid the foundations of air law.

    A proposal was formally taken up by France and submitted to the other principal Allied powers who received it favourably. This action then resulted in the drawing up of the International Air Convention, which was signed by 26 of the 32 Allied and Associated powers represented at the Paris Peace Conference and was ultimately ratified by 38 States. It should be noted that this Convention took over all the principles that had already been formulated by the Conference that had been held in 1910 in Paris. The Convention was ultimately in force for thirty-three States by 1940.

    The U.S. government extended an invitation to 55 States to attend an International Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago in 1944. Known then and today more commonly as the 'Chicago Convention', this landmark agreement laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation. It set out as its prime objective the development of international civil aviation "…in a safe and orderly manner", and such that air transport services would be established "on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically." On 4 April 1947, upon sufficient ratifications to the Chicago Convention, the International Civil Aviation Authority came into being. The first official ICAO Assembly was held in Montreal in May of that year. On 3 October 1947 the ICAO became a UN specialized agency.

    Today the ICAO has 193 Members States with headquarters located in the Quartier international de Montréal of Montreal, Quebec, Canada with seven Regional Offices throughout the world. [Chicago Convention; 1919 Paris Convention; ICAO website]

    Chicago, IL; International relations; International standards; Montreal, QC; Paris, France; United Nations
    1910 (In the year)
    191-
    The Ottoman officials, architects and masons came from Constantinople for the express purpose of planning a city outside of the old prison walls. They opened two large gateways through the thick, solid and ancient walls of the old fort of Acca. Both opened out on the green plain in front of Bahji. -Ameen U. Fareed (Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 9, August 20, 1910) Akka, Israel; History (general)
    1913 28 Aug
    191-
    The opening of the Peace Palace in The Hague.
  • It was built as the home for the for the Permanent Court of Arbitration with funding from the Scottish-American steel Magnate Andre Carnegie at the sum of US$1.5 million ($14M in today's terms) The buiding is owned by the Carnegie Foundation
  • Between 1922 and 1940 The Permanent Court of International Justice, often called the World Court and by a resolution from the League of Nations on 18 April 1946, both the Court and the League ceased to exist and were replaced by the International Court of Justice and the United Nations.
  • In 1923 it became the seat for The Hague Academy for International Law and The Peace Palace Library, a library of international law.
  • Since 1945 it has been the seat of the International Court of Justice. The ICJ is the highest judicial organ of the United Nations.
  • The Peace Palace is also home to the Carnegie Foundation, the legal owner and manager of the building.
  • The Peace Palace website.
  • Fortresses, castles and palaces; Netherlands; Peace Palace, The Hague; The Hague, Netherlands
    1916 Oct
    191-
    The North American Bahá'í community began a teaching campaign aiming to teach the Faith in the many states named in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, and Montreal was designated the centre of the Northern Territory of the Campaign, which was assigned the responsibility of teaching the Faith in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Mackenzie, Keewatin, Ungava, Franklin Island, and Greenland .[SoW Vol 7 No 12 16 October 1916 p112] Canada; Greenland; Montreal, QC; Tablets of the Divine Plan
    1917 (in the year)
    191-
    The news magazine, Khurshid-i khavar (Sun of the East) commenced publication. [BWNS1289] * Publications; - First publications; - Periodicals; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Ishqabad (Ashgabat); Khurshid-i khavar (Sun of the East); Turkmenistan
    1917 28 Jul
    191-
    The National Association of the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP) organized a Silent Protest Parade, also known as the Silent March, on 5th Avenue in New York City. This protest was a response to violence against African Americans, including the race riots, lynching, and outrages in Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, and other states. [Black Past]

    One incident in particular, the East St. Louis Race Riot, also called the East St. Louis Massacre, was a major catalyst of the silent parade. This horrific event drove close to six thousand blacks from their own burning homes and left several hundred dead.

  • In response to the rioting, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sent W.E.B. DuBois and Martha Gruening to investigate the incident. They compiled a report entitled Massacre at East St. Louis, which was published in the NAACP's magazine, The Crisis (Vol 14 # 5 p219-238). A year after the riot, a Special Committee formed by the United States House of Representatives launched an investigation into police actions during the East St. Louis Riot. Investigators found that the National Guard and also the East St. Louis police force had not acted adequately during the riots, revealing that the police often fled from the scenes of murder and arson. Some even fled from stationhouses and refused to answer calls for help. The investigation resulted in the indictment of several members of the East St. Louis police force.
  • East St. Louis, IL; Martha Gruening; Michigan, USA; National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); New York, USA; New York, USA; Race; Racism; W. E. B. Du Bois
    1911 3 Nov
    191-
    The morning talk in His apartment was on The Evolution of Matter and Development of the Soul. [ABF149-151, PT64-67]
  • The Persian students who had been frequent visitors paid one last visit before departing for their place of study.
  • In the evening He spoke at the Dreyfus-Barney home on the evolution of matter and the development of the soul. [ABF152]
  • `Abdu'l-Bahá, First Western tour; France; Paris, France

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